PRKCA antisense RNA 1 (PRKCA-AS1)

PRKCA antisense RNA 1 (PRKCA-AS1) is an antisense long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) gene located on human chromosome 17q24.2 that is transcribed antisense to the PRKCA (protein kinase C alpha) gene. PRKCA-AS1 is predominantly expressed in the nucleus and is implicated in the epigenetic regulation of its sense partner gene, PRKCA, by recruiting DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) to the promoter of PRKCA, thereby modifying DNA methylation and suppressing PRKCA transcription. Its expression and function are influenced by inflammatory signaling (e.g., p38/MAPK pathway), and altered levels of PRKCA-AS1 have been observed in disease contexts such as rheumatic heart disease and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Evidence suggests it may contribute to malignancy progression, likely by affecting cellular proliferation and gene silencing via epigenetic regulation. PRKCA-AS1 is not currently considered a direct therapeutic target such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter, but it is a functional non-coding RNA with relevance in disease biology.