# QKI

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/qki/  
OnCo record `qki` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

QKI (KH domain-containing RNA-binding protein QKI) is a gene whose normal job is to hold cell growth in check. The public catalogues list it as an oncogene driver and a tumour suppressor, and it is called a cancer driver by mutation analysis of patient cohorts. Tied to Breast cancer, Skin cancer, Colorectal cancer and 3 more.

## Summary

RNA reader protein, which recognises and binds specific RNAs, thereby regulating RNA metabolic processes, such as pre-mRNA splicing, circular RNA (circRNA) formation, mRNA export, mRNA stability and/or translation. Involved in various cellular processes, such as mRNA storage into stress granules, apoptosis, lipid deposition, interferon response, glial cell fate and development. Binds to the 5'-NACUAAY-N(1,20)-UAAY-3' RNA core sequence.

Open Targets scores its association with cancer at 0.76 (direct and indirect evidence; datatypes affected pathway 0.76, literature 0.97, genetic association 0.00, somatic mutation 0.82, animal model 0.47). IntOGen calls it a driver in 2 cohorts (1 activating, 1 loss-of-function), covering Glioblastoma Multiforme, Melanoma.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: QKI, KH domain containing RNA binding; KH domain-containing RNA-binding protein QKI; QK3
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: QKI
- Class: tumor-suppressor
- Biology: RNA reader protein, which recognises and binds specific RNAs, thereby regulating RNA metabolic processes, such as pre-mRNA splicing, circular RNA (circRNA) formation, mRNA export, mRNA stability and/or translation. Involved in various cellular processes, such as mRNA storage into stress granules, apoptosis, lipid deposition, interferon response, glial cell fate and development. Binds to the 5'-NACUAAY-N(1,20)-UAAY-3' RNA core sequence. Acts as a mRNA modification reader that specifically recognises and binds mRNA transcripts modified by internal N(7)-methylguanine (m7G). Promotes the formation of circular RNAs (circRNAs) during the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and in cardiomyocytes: acts by binding to sites flanking circRNA-forming exons. CircRNAs are produced by back-splicing circularisation of pre-mRNAs. Location: Nucleus; Cytoplasm; Cytoplasm, cytosol; Cytoplasm, Stress granule (UniProt). Locus 6q26 (HGNC).
- Where found: Breast cancer: Open Targets association 0.56 with breast cancer (MONDO_0007254); Skin cancer: Open Targets association 0.54 with skin cancer (MONDO_0002898); Colorectal cancer: Open Targets association 0.51 with colorectal cancer (MONDO_0005575); Gastric & gastro-oesophageal junction cancer: Open Targets association 0.50 with gastric cancer (MONDO_0001056); Melanoma: Open Targets association 0.57 with melanoma (MONDO_0005105); IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (MEL); Glioma & glioblastoma: IntOGen driver in 1 cohort (GBM)

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: IntOGen calls it an activating (Act) driver in 1 cohort; IntOGen calls it a loss-of-function (LoF) driver in 1 cohort. Evidence tier "cohort-driver" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:21100: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:21100
- UniProt Q96PU8: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q96PU8/entry
- NCBI Gene 9444: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/9444
- Ensembl ENSG00000112531: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000112531

## Connected records

- collections: [IntOGen](https://onco.cc/collections/intogen/), [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)
- cancers: [Breast cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/breast-cancer/), [Colorectal cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/colorectal/), [Gastric & gastro-oesophageal junction cancer](https://onco.cc/cancers/gastric/), [Glioma & glioblastoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/glioblastoma/), [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/), [Skin cancer (all types)](https://onco.cc/cancers/skin-cancer/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/qki.json