Ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 C pseudogene 3 (long non-coding RNA) (UBE2CP3)

UBE2CP3 is a long non-coding RNA transcribed from the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme E2 C pseudogene 3 locus located on chromosome 4q12. Rather than encoding a functional enzyme, UBE2CP3 functions as a regulatory lncRNA with roles in tumor progression. It is upregulated in various cancers, notably hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer, where its expression correlates with increased invasiveness, metastasis, and poor prognosis. Mechanistically, UBE2CP3 acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA), forming regulatory networks by sequestering specific microRNAs (such as miR-138-5p) and thereby modulating downstream targets like ITGA2, which promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. It also interacts with proteins (e.g., ILF3) and is transcriptionally repressed by ELF3. UBE2CP3 is being studied as a novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in oncology, though no direct pharmacological modulators are currently available[1][2][3][4][6]. Key points: - **UBE2CP3 is not a classical enzymatic or receptor target**: It is a disease-associated long non-coding RNA, not an active ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, despite its name[2][4]. - **Notable roles in cancer**: Strongly implicated in metastatic progression and poor clinical prognosis in multiple tumor types, especially hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer[2][4]. - **No direct drug interactions known**: Current evidence is for its role in pathogenesis and as a candidate biomarker, rather than as a validated therapeutic target with active modulators[4].

Other names

lncRNA UBE2CP3UBE2CP3-001

Acts as a ceRNA, sequestering miRNAs (such as miR-138-5p) to regulate target mRNA levels (ITGA2)