Details for: LINC02188

Gene ID: 102724344

Gene Type:  ncRNA (Non-coding RNA)  - A functional RNA molecule that is transcribed from DNA but not translated into a protein. Includes classes like miRNA and lncRNA.

Symbol: LINC02188

Ensembl ID: ENSG00000261175

Description: long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 2188

Selected Context(s):  Overall

Cell Significance Landscape

Contexts:

Significant Cells

Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores for the chosen context(s)

  • melanocyte of skin CL1000458
    CSI 2.55
    rCSI 3.48%
    PRS 99.21

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this specific cell.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.

Cell ID: Standard Cell Ontology term used for mapping and comparing cells across experiments. Ensures consistency in analyzing cellular functions across tissues.
Fold Change: Represents the ratio of the current Cell Significance Index to the Cell Significance Index Threshold, indicating how much the gene expression has changed compared to a baseline.
Cell Significance Index: Reflects how strongly a gene is expressed in this cell type. Calculated using techniques like effect size estimation and bootstrapping for reliability.
Network Configuration

Explore relationships of the current gene. Select an Interaction Source: 'ONTOLOGY' for shared pathways (GO/Reactome) or 'STRING' for protein-protein interactions. Further refine by selecting context genes and comparing Cell Significance Index (CSI) scores between baseline and target cell types and their specific contexts.

Comma-separated if multiple.
Comma-separated if multiple.
Legend:
  • Query Gene
  • Node Color (Target Cell CSI, relative to current network):
    • Very High
    • High
    • Medium
    • Low
    • Very Low
    • CSI N/A
  • Node Size: Proportional to Target Cell CSI magnitude
  • STRING PPI Edge
  • Shared Pathway Edge (ONTOLOGY)

Loading network (please wait)...

Other Information

This section provides additional information about the gene, including a description generated by an AI language model and details about associated proteins.

## Summary [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) is a long intergenic non-protein coding RNA (lincRNA) located on human chromosome 16. The function of this lncRNA is largely uncharacterized. However, expression data indicates a highly specific role, with its significance being most pronounced in [melanocyte of skin](/details-cell/CL1000458). This restricted expression pattern suggests a potential involvement in pathways that define melanocyte lineage, identity, or physiological function, such as pigmentation or response to environmental stressors. ## Cellular Roles and Expression Landscape The expression profile of [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) is characterized by its notable specificity. **Overall**, the gene exhibits its highest significance as a marker for [melanocyte of skin](/details-cell/CL1000458) (CSI: 2.55). This suggests that [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) may be integral to the molecular machinery that establishes or maintains the melanocytic phenotype. The current dataset does not provide information on cell types where this gene is lowly expressed, which limits a broader interpretation of its tissue-wide specificity. Furthermore, as the analysis is confined to a general context, the potential for dynamic regulation of [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) expression in response to different stimuli, developmental stages, or pathological conditions remains an open area for investigation. ## Pathways and Molecular Function Functional annotation for [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) is currently unavailable. As a lncRNA, it is likely to exert its function through regulatory mechanisms such as guiding chromatin-modifying complexes, acting as a molecular scaffold for protein-protein interactions, or sponging microRNAs to modulate target gene expression. Given its specific expression in [melanocyte of skin](/details-cell/CL1000458), it is plausible that [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) participates in pathways critical to melanocyte biology. These may include the regulation of melanogenesis (melanin synthesis), the control of cell proliferation and survival in response to UV radiation, or the maintenance of melanocyte stem cell populations. ## Research Directions The highly specific expression of [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) in melanocytes raises important questions about its role in both normal physiology and diseases such as melanoma. A key research direction would be to compare its expression levels and functional role in healthy [melanocyte of skin](/details-cell/CL1000458) versus malignant melanoma cells to determine if it is dysregulated during tumorigenesis. **Proposed Hypotheses:** 1. [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) is a positive regulator of melanogenesis. Its expression may be induced by signals that promote pigmentation, and its mechanism could involve modulating the expression or activity of the master melanocyte transcription factor, MITF. 2. [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) functions as a tumor suppressor in melanocytes, with its expression being downregulated in melanoma to facilitate uncontrolled cell proliferation or evasion of apoptosis. **Experimental Approach:** To test the hypothesis that [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) regulates melanogenesis, one could perform a loss-of-function study in cultured primary human melanocytes. Using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or a CRISPR-Cas9 interference (CRISPRi) system to specifically knockdown [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344), researchers could then assess the impact on key cellular processes. Changes in melanin production could be quantified using a melanin content assay, while the expression of essential melanogenesis genes (*MITF*, *TYR*, *TYRP1*, *DCT*) could be measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot. **Therapeutic Potential:** The exquisite specificity of [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) for the melanocytic lineage makes it a potentially compelling therapeutic target in the context of melanoma. If subsequent research validates it as an oncogene that is upregulated and drives melanoma progression, it would represent a prime candidate for targeted inhibition. RNA-based therapies, such as ASOs, could be designed to specifically degrade the [LINC02188](/details-gene/102724344) transcript in tumor cells, offering a precise therapeutic strategy with a potentially favorable safety profile due to its limited expression in other cell types.