Rab23 mRNA 3'-untranslated region (Rab23 3'-UTR)

The Rab23 mRNA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) is a critical regulatory segment of the messenger RNA encoding the Rab23 protein, a member of the Rab family of small GTPases. This region serves as a primary docking site for various microRNAs (miRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins that control the stability and translation efficiency of the Rab23 transcript (PubMed: 25600155). Rab23 itself is a key negative regulator of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway, which is essential for embryonic development and cellular homeostasis (PubMed: 11336704). In many human malignancies, such as gastric and bladder cancers, the Rab23 3'-UTR is targeted by downregulated tumor-suppressive miRNAs like miR-367 and miR-508-3p; the loss of this regulation leads to Rab23 overexpression and subsequent oncogenic progression (PubMed: 28415714, 26918357). Consequently, the Rab23 3'-UTR is an important therapeutic target for RNA-based strategies, where synthetic miRNA mimics or antisense oligonucleotides are designed to bind this region to suppress the pathological expression of Rab23 and inhibit tumor growth.

Other names

Rab23 3'-UTRRAB23 3'UTRRab23 mRNA 3' untranslated regionRas-related protein Rab-23 mRNA 3'-UTR

MicroRNA-mediated gene silencing via sequence-specific binding to the 3'-UTR, leading to mRNA degradation or translational repression of the Rab23 protein.