GenAge entry for KCNA3 (Homo sapiens)

Entry selected based on evidence directly linking the gene product to ageing in a mammalian model organism

Gene name (HAGRID: 268)

HGNC symbol: KCNA3
Aliases: Kv1.3; MK3; HLK3; HPCN3
Common name: potassium channel, voltage gated shaker related subfamily A, member 3

Potential relevance to the human ageing process

Main reason for selection

Entry selected based on evidence directly linking the gene product to ageing in a mammalian model organism

Description

The potassium voltage-gated channel, shaker-related subfamily, member 3, also known as KCNA3 or Kv1.3, is involved in the repolarization of nerve cells following an action potential. It also plays an essential role in T-cell proliferation and activation.

Null mice weigh less than controls, have modified ingestive behaviours, are resistant to fat deposition following a moderately high-fat dietary regime and have improved longevity and fecundity. Moreover, gene-targeted deletion in the short-lived MC4R-null mice returned the lifespan of these mice to approximately wild-type levels [2163].

A variant in the promoter of the KCNA3 gene was found associated with impaired glucose tolerance and lower insulin sensitivity [2164]. KCNA3 is also involved in age-related diseases, like Alzheimer's disease and cancer. For example, an aberrant glutamate-dependent modulation of KCNA3 channels was found in T lymphocytes of Alzheimer patients [2165], and it was shown that the inhibition of KCNA3 has an anti-proliferative effect, blocking proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cells [2166]. A reduced expression of KCNA3 was also found in human prostate cancer [2168]. So far there has been no direct evidence linking KCNA3 to human longevity and further research is needed.

Cytogenetic information

Cytogenetic band: 1p13.3
Location: 110,672,452 bp to 110,675,033 bp
Orientation: Minus strand

Display region using the UCSC Genome Browser (GRCh38/hg38)

Protein information

Gene Ontology

Process:

GO:0006813; potassium ion transport
GO:0034765; regulation of ion transmembrane transport
GO:0051260; protein homooligomerization
GO:0071805; potassium ion transmembrane transport

Cellular component:

GO:0005886; plasma membrane
GO:0008076; voltage-gated potassium channel complex
GO:0030424; axon
GO:0045121; membrane raft

Function:

GO:0005244; voltage-gated ion channel activity
GO:0005251; delayed rectifier potassium channel activity
GO:0015271; outward rectifier potassium channel activity

Show all GO terms

Protein interactions and network

Protein-protein interacting partners in GenAge: BAX
STRING interaction network

Retrieve sequences for KCNA3

ORF: ORF
CDS: CDS

Homologs in model organisms

Caenorhabditis elegans: shk-1
Danio rerio: KCNA3
Drosophila melanogaster: Sh
Mus musculus: Kcna3
Rattus norvegicus: Kcna3

In other databases

GenAge model organism genes

A homolog of this gene for Mus musculus is present as Kcna3

GenDR gene manipulations

A homolog of this gene for Caenorhabditis elegans is present as shk-1