Function |
This gene produces a spliced, long non-coding RNA that is highly overexpressed in most types of prostate cancer cells and is used as a specific biomarker for this type of cancer. This gene is embedded in an intronic region of the prune2 gene on the opposite DNA strand. The transcript regulates prune2 levels through formation of a double-stranded RNA that undergoes adenosine deaminase acting on RNA-dependent adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing. In prostate cancer derived cells, overexpression of PCA induced downregulation of prune2, leading to decreased cell proliferation. Conversely, silencing in prostate cancer cells resulted in increased proliferation. Regulation of this gene appears to be sensitive to androgen-receptor activation, a molecular signature of prostate cancer. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. |