Transmembrane protein 198B (pseudogene) (TMEM198B)

Transmembrane protein 198B (TMEM198B) is a human pseudogene located on chromosome 12, with no confirmed protein product and no established role as a conventional drug target. While its sequence suggests it might encode a transmembrane protein localized to the Golgi apparatus, this has not been confirmed, and its protein-coding potential is disputed. Recent research indicates that the TMEM198B pseudogene's RNA transcript is highly expressed in glioma tissues and cell lines, where it influences glioma progression by reprogramming lipid metabolism and modulating the tumor immune microenvironment. These effects are mediated through complex regulatory circuits, including epigenetic modification and exosome-mediated signaling, rather than classical receptor or enzyme activity. Thus, TMEM198B is primarily considered a non-coding RNA with regulatory functions in cancer, not a typical drug target. It is distinct from the protein-coding gene TMEM198.