Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 326 (LINC00326)

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 326 (LINC00326) is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that does not code for a protein and is located on chromosome 6q23[1][5]. It is alternatively known as NCRNA00326. LINC00326 is implicated in the regulation of lipid metabolism, cell proliferation, and apoptosis by interacting with the RNA-binding protein CCT3 in a chaperonin-independent manner[2][4]. This regulatory interaction is particularly relevant in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where increased LINC00326 expression is associated with reduced tumor burden and enhanced lipid degradation in cellular and animal models. Under normal conditions, LINC00326 shows tissue-specific expression, being primarily detected in the testis with roles suggested in spermatogenesis and germ cell apoptosis[2]. Its expression is reduced or lost in testicular and liver cancers, correlating with disease severity. LINC00326’s function appears noncanonical among lncRNAs, emphasizing its involvement in cancer-related metabolic and apoptotic pathways, but no drugs are currently known to target this molecule directly. While LINC00326 has emerging value as a biomarker in HCC, it is not currently considered a direct therapeutic target, receptor, or druggable protein[2][4].

Other names

NCRNA00326non-protein coding RNA 326