HULC (gene) explained

In molecular biology, Highly Up-regulated in Liver Cancer (non-protein coding), also known as HULC, is a long non-coding RNA. It was first identified in hepatocellular carcinoma, and is also expressed in colorectal carcinomas that metastasise to the liver.^{[1] [2]} It may have a role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. It downregulates the expression of several microRNAs, including miR-372.^[3] Expression of HULC is upregulated by CREB, there is a CREB-binding site in the promoter of HULC. miR-372 represses translation of the kinase PRKACB, so downregulation of miR-372 leads to increased levels of PRKACB. PRKACB activates CREB by phosphorylation, therefore leading to increased expression of HULC.

See also

• Long noncoding RNA

Further reading

• Li D, Song YM, Zhan QM . [Specifically up-regulated non-coding RNA gene HULC in tumor cell lines and its effects on the expression of neighboring gene SLC35B3] . Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi . 90 . 44 . 3156–3159 . Nov 2010 . 21211351 .

Notes and References

1. Panzitt K, Tschernatsch MM, Guelly C, Moustafa T, Stradner M, Strohmaier HM, Buck CR, Denk H, Schroeder R, Trauner M, Zatloukal K . Characterization of HULC, a novel gene with striking up-regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma, as noncoding RNA . Gastroenterology . 132 . 1 . 330–342 . Jan 2007 . 17241883 . 10.1053/j.gastro.2006.08.026 . free .
2. Matouk IJ, Abbasi I, Hochberg A, Galun E, Dweik H, Akkawi M . Highly upregulated in liver cancer noncoding RNA is overexpressed in hepatic colorectal metastasis . European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology . 21 . 6 . 688–692 . Jun 2009 . 19445043 . 10.1097/meg.0b013e328306a3a2 . 39245106 .
3. Wang J, Liu X, Wu H, Ni P, Gu Z, Qiao Y, Chen N, Sun F, Fan Q . CREB up-regulates long non-coding RNA, HULC expression through interaction with microRNA-372 in liver cancer . Nucleic Acids Research . 38 . 16 . 5366–5383 . Sep 2010 . 20423907 . 2938198 . 10.1093/nar/gkq285 .