NQO1 antisense RNA 1 (NQO1-AS1)

NQO1 antisense RNA 1 (NQO1-AS1) is a long non-coding natural antisense transcript transcribed from the opposite strand of the NQO1 gene. It predominantly resides in the cytoplasm and has minimal protein-coding potential. Functionally, NQO1-AS1 regulates its sense partner gene NQO1 post-transcriptionally by binding the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of NQO1 mRNA, stabilizing it, and increasing the protein expression level. This upregulation protects against oxidative stress and can play a role in disease contexts such as cancer—where elevated NQO1-AS1 promotes breast cancer progression by boosting NQO1, and in COPD—where it dampens cigarette smoke-induced oxidative damage. NQO1-AS1 represents a functionally important noncoding RNA but is not currently considered a direct therapeutic target; its modulation has implications primarily through effects on its sense gene, NQO1.

Other names

NQO1-ASNqo1-AS1Nqo1 antisense transcript 1Fantom3_F830212L20 (mouse ortholog)

Not applicable: no drugs are known to directly target NQO1-AS1. For NQO1 modulation by NQO1-AS1: acts through antisense pairing with NQO1 mRNA, increasing its stability and expression post-transcriptionally.