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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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RNASE6
ribonuclease A family member 6
Chromosome 14 · 14q11.2
NCBI Gene: 6039Ensembl: ENSG00000169413.4HGNC: HGNC:10048UniProt: Q6IB39
18PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
defense response to virusinnate immune responsedefense response to Gram-negative bacteriumdefense response to Gram-positive bacteriumskin cancerbacterial urinary tract infectionAcute hepatic failureneutropenia, severe congenital, 10, autosomal recessive
✦AI Summary

RNASE6 is a cationic antimicrobial ribonuclease belonging to the RNaseA superfamily that preferentially cleaves RNA at pyrimidine bases 1. The protein possesses a unique dual catalytic center architecture with two catalytic triads (His15/His122/Lys38 and His36/His39/Lys87) that facilitates endonuclease-type cleavage of polymeric substrates 1. RNASE6 demonstrates potent bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including uropathogenic E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus, through bacterial cell agglutination and membrane permeabilization mechanisms independent of its RNase catalytic activity 2. In vivo studies using RNASE6 transgenic mice revealed protective effects during experimental urinary tract infection, with monocytes and macrophages serving as primary cellular sources 3. Beyond antimicrobial function, RNASE6 acts as an immune regulatory RNA-binding protein that promotes M1 macrophage polarization, inhibits melanoma metastasis, and correlates with improved immunotherapy response 4. A common polymorphism (rs1045922) affecting the R66Q position influences antimicrobial efficacy through altered lipopolysaccharide binding 5. RNASE6 expression also modifies APOE-ε4 effects on cognition, implicating neuroinflammatory pathways in Alzheimer's disease 6. These findings establish RNASE6 as a multifunctional innate immune effector with clinical relevance to infection, cancer, and neurodegeneration.

Sources cited
1
RNASE6 has dual catalytic centers (His15/His122/Lys38 and His36/His39/Lys87) that facilitate endonuclease cleavage of polymeric substrates
PMID: 30287244
2
RNASE6 demonstrates potent antimicrobial activity through bacterial agglutination and membrane permeabilization independent of RNase activity
PMID: 27089320
3
RNASE6 transgenic mice show reduced bacterial burden and inflammation during experimental UTI, with monocytes/macrophages as primary sources
PMID: 37980892
4
RNASE6 acts as an immune regulatory RNA-binding protein promoting M1 macrophage polarization and inhibiting melanoma metastasis
PMID: 41055424
5
R66Q polymorphism (rs1045922) affects RNASE6 antimicrobial activity through altered lipopolysaccharide binding and bacterial agglutination
PMID: 38203775
6
RNASE6 expression modifies APOE-ε4 effects on cognition through neuroinflammatory pathways
PMID: 35896049
7
RNASE6 is identified as a differentiation-related gene in tumor-associated macrophages with prognostic significance in NSCLC
PMID: 36969247
8
RNASE6 is part of a diagnostic gene signature for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease progression
PMID: 38281815
Disease Associationsⓘ20
skin cancerOpen Targets
0.14Weak
bacterial urinary tract infectionOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
Acute hepatic failureOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
neutropenia, severe congenital, 10, autosomal recessiveOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
chronic intestinal pseudoobstructionOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Congenital intrinsic factor deficiencyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
neutropenia, severe congenital, 2, autosomal dominantOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
NK-cell enteropathyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
46,XX ovotesticular disorder of sex developmentOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
pyelonephritisOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
tetragametic chimerismOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
cystitisOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
atherosclerosisOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
clear cell renal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
pregnancy disorderOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
infectionOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
diabetic nephropathyOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
periodontitisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Miyoshi myopathyOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
liver dysplastic noduleOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
RNASET2Protein interaction88%LY86Protein interaction86%DEFA6Shared pathway67%RNASE3Shared pathway55%DEFA4Shared pathway50%DEFA3Shared pathway50%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Lung
76%
Heart
28%
Brain
19%
Ovary
16%
Liver
13%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
RNASE6RNASET2LY86DEFA6RNASE3DEFA4DEFA3
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
PDB6ENP · 1.04 Å · X-ray
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.92LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.14Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF1.47 [0.31–1.92]
RankingsWhere RNASE6 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #14,796of 20,598
    Most Researched18
  • #17,379of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.92
Genes detectedRNASE6
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Differentiation-related genes in tumor-associated macrophages as potential prognostic biomarkers in non-small cell lung cancer.
PMID: 36969247
Front Immunol · 2023
1.00
2
Characterization of an RNase with two catalytic centers. Human RNase6 catalytic and phosphate-binding site arrangement favors the endonuclease cleavage of polymeric substrates.
PMID: 30287244
Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj · 2019
0.90
3
Multi-omics identification of RNASE6 as an immune regulatory RNA-binding protein associated with melanoma metastasis.
PMID: 41055424
Autoimmunity · 2025
0.80
4
Human Ribonuclease 6 Has a Protective Role during Experimental Urinary Tract Infection.
PMID: 37980892
J Innate Immun · 2023
0.70
5
RNASE6 is a novel modifier of APOE-ε4 effects on cognition.
PMID: 35896049
Neurobiol Aging · 2022
0.60