Terminal uridylate transferase 7 (TUT7)

Terminal uridylate transferase 7 (TUT7), also known as ZCCHC6, is a member of the poly(A) polymerase family that functions as a non-canonical nucleotidyltransferase [UniProt: Q5VYS8]. It primarily catalyzes the template-independent addition of uridine residues to the 3' ends of various RNA molecules, a process termed uridylation [PubMed: 25480299]. This modification acts as a molecular switch, often signaling for RNA degradation via the DIS3L2 exonuclease or modulating the processing of microRNAs, such as the let-7 family [PubMed: 24332040]. In oncology, TUT7 is frequently overexpressed and contributes to the downregulation of tumor-suppressive miRNAs, thereby promoting cell proliferation and metastasis [PubMed: 30104381]. Additionally, TUT7 has been identified as a factor in viral replication, where it can either restrict or facilitate viral RNA stability depending on the pathogen [PubMed: 28216319]. While no clinical-stage drugs currently target TUT7, it is an active area of research for small-molecule inhibition to restore RNA homeostasis in cancer and infectious diseases [PubMed: 32619401].

Other names

ZCCHC6Terminal uridylyltransferase 7RNA uridylyltransferase ZCCHC6

Inhibition of TUT7-mediated uridylation to prevent the degradation of tumor-suppressive miRNAs or to destabilize viral RNA transcripts.