Neuregulin 3
Protein-coding gene in Homo sapiens / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Neuregulin 3, also known as NRG3, is a neural-enriched member of the neuregulin protein family which in humans is encoded by the NRG3 gene.[5][6] The NRGs are a group of signaling proteins part of the superfamily of epidermal growth factor, EGF like polypeptide growth factor. These groups of proteins possess an 'EGF-like domain' that consists of six cysteine residues and three disulfide bridges predicted by the consensus sequence of the cysteine residues.[7]
The neuregulins are a diverse family of proteins formed through alternative splicing from a single gene; they play crucial roles in regulating the growth and differentiation of epithelial, glial and muscle cells. These groups of proteins also aid cell-cell associations in the breast, heart and skeletal muscles.[6][8] Four different kinds of neuregulin genes have been identified, namely: NRG1 NRG2 NRG3 and NRG4. While the NRG1 isoforms have been extensively studied, there is little information available about the other genes of the family. NRGs bind to the ERBB3 and ERBB4 tyrosine kinase receptors;[6] they then form homodimers or heterodimers, often consisting of ERBB2, which is thought to function as a co-receptor as it has not been observed to bind any ligand.[9][10] NRGs bind to the ERBB receptors to promote phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues on the C-terminal link of the receptor and the interactions of intracellular signaling proteins.[11]
NRGs also play significant roles in developing, maintaining, and repair of the nervous system; this is because NRG1, NRG2 and NRG3 are widely expressed in the central nervous system and also in the olfactory system.[11] Studies have observed that in mice, NRG3 is limited to the developing Central nervous system as well as the adult form;[6] previous studies also highlight the roles of NRG1, ERBB2, and ERBB4 in the development of the heart. Mice deficient in ERBB2, ERBB4, or NRG1 were observed to die at the mid-embryogenesis stage from the termination of myocardial trabeculae development in the ventricle. These results confirm that NRG1 expression in the endocardium is a significant ligand required to activate expression of ERBB2 and ERBB4 in the myocardium.[6]