Ribosomal protein L23a pseudogene 43 (RPL23AP43)

Ribosomal protein L23a pseudogene 43 (RPL23AP43) is a processed pseudogene related to the gene encoding ribosomal protein L23a, a component of the large (60S) ribosomal subunit in eukaryotes. Unlike the parent gene (RPL23A), RPL23AP43 does not encode a functional protein and is considered noncoding. While the parent gene is essential for protein synthesis, RPL23AP43's role is less clear; pseudogenes can sometimes modulate the expression of their parental genes via various mechanisms, but such a function has not been directly demonstrated for RPL23AP43. Some pseudogenes similar to RPL23AP43 (such as RPL23AP53) have been investigated for potential roles as molecular biomarkers in cancer, notably in melanoma, where higher expression levels of certain ribosomal protein L23a pseudogenes correlate with improved overall survival. However, there is no evidence that RPL23AP43 represents a classic therapeutic target or is actionable with drugs. The parent gene, RPL23A, encodes a highly conserved structural ribosomal protein and has over 90 known processed pseudogenes, of which RPL23AP43 is one. Processed pseudogenes like RPL23AP43 are DNA sequences that originated from mRNA retrotransposition and generally do not produce proteins but may have residual noncoding RNA functions. Some ribosomal protein pseudogenes have been explored as cancer biomarkers, but this is not equivalent to being a therapeutic target. There are no known small molecules or biologics that pharmacologically modulate pseudogenes such as RPL23AP43. In summary, RPL23AP43 is a noncoding processed pseudogene of ribosomal protein L23a, not a receptor or conventional therapeutic target, but of potential interest as a biomarker in cancer research.

Other names

RPL23A_16_360RPL23AP43