User:Sarahburge/Ultraconserved element 338

Ultraconserved element 338 (uc.388) is an ultra-conserved element which was first identified in hepatocellular carcinoma carinoma cells. This non-coding RNA gene has been shown to affect genes involved in cellular growth processes. It is one of a number of ultraconserved elements which is aberrantly expressed in malignant hepatocytes, although uc.338 is not differentially expressed in other human cancer cell lines.

Genomic location
The element is partly contained within the poly(rC) binding protein 2 (PCBP2) gene, however transcription of uc.338 is independent of that of PCPB2.

Function
Although the exact mechanism of action of uc.338 is unknown, siRNA-mediated knockdown of uc.338 modulates the progression of hepatocytes through the cell cycle; the population of hepatocytes in S phase reduces when uc.338 is inhibited.