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CUL3 gene
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/cul3/

CUL3 gene

cullin 3

Normal Function

The CUL3 gene provides instructions for making a protein called cullin-3. This protein plays a role in the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which breaks down (degrades) unwanted proteins inside cells.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system acts as the cell's quality control system by disposing of damaged, misshapen, and excess proteins. Cullin-3 is a core piece of a complex known as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. E3 ubiquitin ligases tag proteins with molecules called ubiquitin. Ubiquitin signals specialized cell structures known as proteasomes to attach (bind) to the tagged proteins and degrade them.  The ubiquitin-proteasome system also regulates several critical cell activities by controlling the amounts of proteins involved in them.

E3 ubiquitin ligases that contain cullin-3 tag many proteins that perform a variety of functions, such as cell growth and division. These ligases also tag blood pressure-related proteins called WNK1 and WNK4, which are produced from the WNK1 and WNK4 genes.  By regulating the amount of WNK1 and WNK4 available, cullin-3 plays a role in blood pressure control.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

CUL3-related neurodevelopmental disorder

CUL3 gene variants (also called mutations) can cause a condition called CUL3-related neurodevelopmental disorder. This condition affects neurological and physical development. 

The CUL3 gene variants that cause CUL3-related neurodevelopmental disorder can lead to the production of nonfunctional cullin-3 proteins, and in some cases, no cullin-3 protein production at all.  Without the normal amount of functioning cullin-3 proteins, the breakdown of unwanted proteins by the ubiquitin-proteasome system becomes impaired at key developmental stages. As a result, unnecessary proteins build up and interfere with the normal function of cells. Since cullin-3 is produced in nerve cells throughout the brain, it is likely that the protein's dysfunction damages nerve cells, causing many of the signs and symptoms of CUL3-related neurodevelopmental disorder.

Researchers suspect that each variant that causes CUL3-related neurodevelopmental disorder affects the tagging of specific proteins by the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. So, each variant could interfere with the breakdown of proteins differently. This mechanism may explain the variety of signs and symptoms seen in individuals with CUL3-related neurodevelopmental disorder.

More About This Health Condition

Pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2

Specific variants in a particular region of the CUL3 gene can cause pseudohypoaldosteronism type 2 (PHA2), a condition characterized by high blood pressure (hypertension) and high levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia). These variants lead to the production of an abnormally short cullin-3 protein that is missing a particular region. 

Studies show that this change alters the function of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. It impairs the breakdown of the WNK4 protein, although the exact mechanism is unclear. The resulting excess of WNK4 protein disrupts normal control of blood pressure, causing hypertension and other features of PHA2. While PHA2 and CUL3-related neurodevelopmental disorder share a genetic cause, the features of PHA2 do not overlap with the neurological or physical problems of CUL3-related neurodevelopmental disorder.

It is unknown if the breakdown of WNK1 is affected by the alterations to E3 ubiquitin ligase or whether WNK1 plays a role in cases of PHA2 caused by CUL3 gene variants.

More About This Health Condition

Other Names for This Gene

  • CUL-3
  • cullin-3 isoform 1
  • cullin-3 isoform 2
  • cullin-3 isoform 3
  • PHA2E

Additional Information & Resources

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

Scientific Articles on PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Gene and Variant Databases

References

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  • Kato K, Miya F, Oka Y, Mizuno S, Saitoh S. A novel missense variant in CUL3 shows altered binding ability to BTB-adaptor proteins leading to diverse phenotypes of CUL3-related disorders. J Hum Genet. 2021 May;66(5):491-498. doi: 10.1038/s10038-020-00868-9. Epub 2020 Oct 31. Citation on PubMed
  • McCormick JA, Yang CL, Zhang C, Davidge B, Blankenstein KI, Terker AS, Yarbrough B, Meermeier NP, Park HJ, McCully B, West M, Borschewski A, Himmerkus N, Bleich M, Bachmann S, Mutig K, Argaiz ER, Gamba G, Singer JD, Ellison DH. Hyperkalemic hypertension-associated cullin 3 promotes WNK signaling by degrading KLHL3. J Clin Invest. 2014 Nov;124(11):4723-36. doi: 10.1172/JCI76126. Epub 2014 Sep 24. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Ohta A, Schumacher FR, Mehellou Y, Johnson C, Knebel A, Macartney TJ, Wood NT, Alessi DR, Kurz T. The CUL3-KLHL3 E3 ligase complex mutated in Gordon's hypertension syndrome interacts with and ubiquitylates WNK isoforms: disease-causing mutations in KLHL3 and WNK4 disrupt interaction. Biochem J. 2013 Apr 1;451(1):111-22. doi: 10.1042/BJ20121903. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Shibata S, Zhang J, Puthumana J, Stone KL, Lifton RP. Kelch-like 3 and Cullin 3 regulate electrolyte homeostasis via ubiquitination and degradation of WNK4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 May 7;110(19):7838-43. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1304592110. Epub 2013 Apr 1. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central

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