| Property |
Value |
| Gene Symbol |
LRRTM3 |
| Full Name |
Leucine-Rich Repeat Transmembrane Neuronal 3 |
| Chr Location |
10q21.3 |
| NCBI Gene ID |
285220 |
| OMIM ID |
611242 |
| Ensembl ID |
ENSG00000163220 |
| UniProt ID |
Q86VH5 |
| Encoded Protein |
LRRTM3 |
| Associated Diseases |
Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, visual processing disorders |
LRRTM3 (Leucine-Rich Repeat Transmembrane Neuronal 3) is a synaptic adhesion molecule involved in excitatory synapse formation and function. Located on chromosome 10q21.3, LRRTM3 has distinct binding properties compared to other LRRTM family members and may have specialized functions in specific neural circuits. It has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, and visual processing disorders.
LRRTM3 encodes leucine-rich repeat transmembrane neuronal 3, a synaptic adhesion molecule involved in excitatory synapse formation and function. LRRTM3 has distinct binding properties and may have specialized functions in specific neural circuits.
Key normal physiological functions include:
- Synapse formation - Promotes excitatory synapse development
- Visual circuit development - Critical for retinogeniculate connectivity
- AMPA receptor function - Regulates AMPAR trafficking
- Learning and memory - Involved in hippocampal plasticity
- Presynaptic differentiation - Induces presynaptic specialization
- Post-synaptic organization - Localizes to PSD
The protein structure:
- Signal peptide - N-terminal secretion signal
- Leucine-rich repeats - 10 LRR motifs
- Transmembrane region - Single pass membrane
- Cytoplasmic domain - Intracellular signaling
- LRRTM3 genetic variants associated with AD risk
- Involved in amyloid pathology
- Synaptic function affected in AD
- Rare variants found in ASD patients
- Synaptic dysfunction mechanism
- Expressed in visual pathway
- May affect visual circuit formation
LRRTM3 is expressed in neural tissues:
- Highest expression: Cortex, hippocampus, visual cortex
- Moderate expression: Cerebellum, thalamus
- Cellular localization: Postsynaptic membranes
- Cell types: Excitatory neurons
The Allen Brain Atlas shows high LRRTM3 expression in:
- Visual cortex (primary and association)
- Hippocampal pyramidal neurons
- Cortical layer 2-4 neurons
- Linhoff et al., LRRTM family function (2009)
- Soler-Llavona et al., LRRTM3 and synapse formation (2010)