Ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1) mRNA (ODC1 mRNA)

Ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1) mRNA is the transcript encoding the rate-limiting enzyme of the polyamine biosynthetic pathway, which is critical for cell growth and survival (NCBI Gene: 4953). The ODC1 protein catalyzes the decarboxylation of ornithine to putrescine, a precursor for the polyamines spermidine and spermine, which stabilize DNA and facilitate protein synthesis (Casero et al., 2018). In many cancers, particularly neuroblastoma and colorectal cancer, ODC1 is significantly upregulated, often driven by the MYC or MYCN oncogenes, making it a high-priority therapeutic target (Hogarty et al., 2008). While small molecule inhibitors like eflornithine (DFMO) target the enzyme directly, targeting the ODC1 mRNA via antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or siRNA offers a potent alternative to suppress protein production at the source. This mRNA-targeting approach is also relevant for Bachmann-Bupp syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by ODC1 gain-of-function mutations (Bachmann et al., 2018). Therapeutic challenges include managing systemic polyamine depletion, which can lead to side effects such as reversible ototoxicity (Hogarty et al., 2008).

Other names

ODC mRNAOrnithine decarboxylase transcriptODC1 transcript

RNA interference (siRNA), RNase H-mediated degradation (ASO), or translational repression to reduce ODC1 protein synthesis and subsequent polyamine production (Casero et al., 2018).