Transmembrane protein 14B (TMEM14B)

Transmembrane protein 14B (TMEM14B) is a primate-specific, mitochondria-associated protein that plays a critical role in cerebral cortex development, specifically in neural precursor cell proliferation, cortical thickening, and folding of the developing neocortex. It marks basal/outer radial glial cells and can drive proliferation by increasing IQGAP1 phosphorylation and promoting the G1/S transition of the cell cycle. In the context of cancer, TMEM14B is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and acts as a significant prognostic marker, where its knockdown inhibits tumor cell proliferation and migration. TMEM14B is not typically considered a classical "therapeutic target" like a receptor or enzyme but is a marker and functional regulator in both brain development and cancer biology. Current data do not implicate direct drug interactions, nor indicate significant safety concerns. TMEM14B is not a receptor, enzyme, or transporter; it is a structural/functional protein primarily implicated in development and disease prognosis, not currently a direct therapeutic target. No approved or experimental drugs targeting TMEM14B are reported. It demonstrates biomarker utility in hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis, but no established use for therapy or patient selection. Listed molecular and disease roles are well supported, but broader therapeutic exploration is currently limited.

Other names

TMEM14BMGC1223