HOTTIP

In molecular biology, HOTTIP (HOXA transcript at the distal tip) is a long non-coding RNA. The gene encoding HOTTIP is located at the 5' tip of the HOXA locus, and coordinates the activation of several of the 5' HOXA genes. The non-coding RNA is brought into close proximity with the HOXA genes by chromosomal looping. HOTTIP binds to the WDR5 protein, which forms a complex with the histone methyltransferase protein MLL. This targets the WDR5-MLL complex to the HOXA region and results in H3K4 methylation and transcriptional activation of the HOXA locus. More recently, HOTTIP has been shown to play a role in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) progression. HOTTIP expression levels predict metastasis formation and poor disease outcome in HCC patients.