Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 944 (LINC00944)

Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 944 (LINC00944) is a human long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) located outside of protein-coding regions of the genome and is longer than 200 nucleotides[1][5]. It does not encode for a protein but can regulate biological processes at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. LINC00944 is highly expressed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissues and cell lines, and higher expression correlates with advanced tumor stage and poorer prognosis[3]. Experimental knockdown of LINC00944 in RCC cell lines reduces their proliferation and migration—indicating an oncogenic role in tumor progression. The regulatory effects may involve the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and modulation of other tumor-associated genes such as TYMP[3]. LINC00944 has also been described as "DMDRMR" (DNA methylation-deregulated and RNA m6A reader-cooperating lncRNA), highlighting its proposed involvement in epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulatory networks, including cooperation with m6A readers; however, detailed mechanism of m6A interaction specifically for LINC00944 remains to be fully elucidated[1]. Currently, there are no approved drugs known to directly target LINC00944, but its role in cancer suggests it is a candidate therapeutic target and/or prognostic biomarker.

Other names

DMDRMRDNA methylation-deregulated and RNA m6A reader-cooperating lncRNALOC100996671

Not drug-targeted, but knockdown (genetic inhibition) reduces proliferation and migration in cancer cell lines[3]