Abstract
Transcribed Ultra-Conserved Regions (T-UCRs) are a novel class of long non-coding RNAs derived from Ultra-Conserved Regions (UCRs) of DNA. The discovery of cancer-specific mutations in UCRs and their location in cancer-associated genomic regions suggests that T-UCRs also play a role in carcinogenesis. However, the mechanisms behind their actions remain unclear. Their interactions with microRNAs are not well understood and are currently a subject of debate. Like other non-coding RNAs, T-UCRs exhibit tissue- and disease-specific expression, making them promising candidates for biomarkers or therapeutic targets in cancer and other diseases. This chapter aims to review the current knowledge on the functional effects of T-UCRs in cancer and other diseases, discuss the role of T-UCRs as regulators and regulated, and present their potential as disease monitoring biomarkers.