protein
Cullin-3
aka CUL-3
Gene
CUL3
Organism
Homo sapiens(9606)
Length
768 aa
Mass
88,930 Da
# Cullin-3 Summary
Cullin-3 (CUL3) is a core scaffold protein of cullin-RING-based E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complexes that mediate ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of target proteins (UniProt: Q13618). The protein functions as part of BCR (BTB-CUL3-RBX1) complexes where substrate specificity is determined by BTB-containing adaptor proteins. Through diverse substrate interactions—including ion transporters, cell cycle regulators, and transcription factors—CUL3 participates in processes ranging from mitotic progression to oxidative stress responses.
CUL3 is expressed broadly and participates in multiple physiological pathways including cell cycle regulation, cytoskeletal organization, ER-Golgi transport, and transcriptional control. Mutations in CUL3 are associated with pseudohypoaldosteronism 2E (PHA2E), an autosomal dominant hypertension disorder, and with neurodevelopmental disorder with or without autism or seizures (NEDAUS), characterized by global developmental delay, intellectual impairment, and speech delay with variable seizures or autistic features (UniProt: Q13618).
CUL3 is classified as SFARI category 1, indicating strong genetic evidence for association with autism spectrum disorder (SFARI Cat 1). Its role in neurodevelopmental pathways and documented involvement in NEDAUS underscore its relevance to autism and neurodevelopmental biology.
Generated from the curated entity record below. May contain errors — verify against source links.
Genetic Evidence · ASD
High confidence — strong genetic evidence from multiple studies
Source: SFARI Gene database · gene.sfari.org
Related Publications
Browse all →Inherited and De Novo Genetic Risk for Autism Impacts Shared Networks.
Ruzzo Elizabeth K et al.Cell2019PMID 31398340Inherited and multiple de novo mutations in autism/developmental delay risk genes suggest a multifactorial model.
Guo Hui et al.Molecular autism2018PMID 30564305Whole genome sequencing resource identifies 18 new candidate genes for autism spectrum disorder.
C Yuen Ryan K et al.Nature neuroscience2017PMID 28263302Identification of common genetic risk variants for autism spectrum disorder.
Grove Jakob et al.Nature genetics2019PMID 30804558Synaptic, transcriptional and chromatin genes disrupted in autism.
De Rubeis Silvia et al.Nature2014PMID 25363760
Function
Core component of multiple cullin-RING-based BCR (BTB-CUL3-RBX1) E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complexes which mediate the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of target proteins. BCR complexes and ARIH1 collaborate in tandem to mediate ubiquitination of target proteins (PubMed:27565346). As a scaffold protein may contribute to catalysis through positioning of the substrate and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. The E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase activity of the complex is dependent on the neddylation of the cullin subunit and is inhibited by the association of the deneddylated cullin subunit with TIP120A/CAND1. The functional specificity of the BCR complex depends on the BTB domain-containing protein as the substrate recognition component. BCR(KLHL42) is involved in ubiquitination of KATNA1. BCR(SPOP) is involved in ubiquitination of BMI1/PCGF4, BRMS1, MACROH2A1 and DAXX, GLI2 and GLI3. Can also form a cullin-RING-based BCR (BTB-CUL3-RBX1) E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase complex containing homodimeric SPOPL or the heterodimer formed by SPOP and SPOPL; these complexes have lower ubiquitin ligase activity. BCR(KLHL9-KLHL13) controls the dynamic behavior of AURKB on mitotic chromosomes and thereby coordinates faithful mitotic progression and completion of cytokinesis. BCR(KLHL12) is involved in ER-Golgi transport by regulating the size of COPII coats, thereby playing a key role in collagen export, which is required for embryonic stem (ES) cells division: BCR(KLHL12) acts by mediating monoubiquitination of SEC31 (SEC31A or SEC31B) (PubMed:22358839, PubMed:27716508). BCR(KLHL3) acts as a regulator of ion transport in the distal nephron; by mediating ubiquitination of WNK4 (PubMed:23387299, PubMed:23453970, PubMed:23576762). The BCR(KLHL20) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex is involved in interferon response and anterograde Golgi to endosome transport: it mediates both ubiquitination leading to degradation and 'Lys-33'-linked ubiquitination (PubMed:20389280, PubMed:21670212, PubMed:21840486, PubMed:24768539). The BCR(KLHL21) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex regulates localization of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) from chromosomes to the spindle midzone in anaphase and mediates the ubiquitination of AURKB (PubMed:19995937). The BCR(KLHL22) ubiquitin ligase complex mediates monoubiquitination of PLK1, leading to PLK1 dissociation from phosphoreceptor proteins and subsequent removal from kinetochores, allowing silencing of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) and chromosome segregation (PubMed:23455478). The BCR(KLHL22) ubiquitin ligase complex is also responsible for the amino acid-stimulated 'Lys-48' polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of DEPDC5. Through the degradation of DEPDC5, releases the GATOR1 complex-mediated inhibition of the TORC1 pathway (PubMed:29769719). The BCR(KLHL25) ubiquitin ligase complex is involved in translational homeostasis by mediating ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of hypophosphorylated EIF4EBP1 (4E-BP1) (PubMed:22578813). The BCR(KLHL25) ubiquitin ligase complex is also involved in lipid synthesis by mediating ubiquitination and degradation of ACLY (PubMed:27664236). The BCR(KBTBD8) complex acts by mediating monoubiquitination of NOLC1 and TCOF1, leading to remodel the translational program of differentiating cells in favor of neural crest specification (PubMed:26399832). Involved in ubiquitination of cyclin E and of cyclin D1 (in vitro) thus involved in regulation of G1/S transition. Involved in the ubiquitination of KEAP1, ENC1 and KLHL41 (PubMed:15983046). In concert with ATF2 and RBX1, promotes degradation of KAT5 thereby attenuating its ability to acetylate and activate ATM. The BCR(KCTD17) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex mediates ubiquitination and degradation of TCHP, a down-regulator of cilium assembly, thereby inducing ciliogenesis (PubMed:25270598). The BCR(KLHL24) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex mediates ubiquitination of KRT14, controls KRT14 levels during keratinocytes differentiation, and is essential for skin integrity (PubMed:27798626). The BCR(KLHL18) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex mediates the ubiquitination of AURKA leading to its activation at the centrosome which is required for initiating mitotic entry (PubMed:23213400). The BCR(KEAP1) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex acts as a key sensor of oxidative and electrophilic stress by mediating ubiquitination and degradation of NFE2L2/NRF2, a transcription factor regulating expression of many cytoprotective genes (PubMed:15601839, PubMed:16006525). As part of the CUL3(KBTBD6/7) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex functions mediates 'Lys-48' ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of TIAM1 (PubMed:25684205). By controlling the ubiquitination of that RAC1 guanine exchange factors (GEF), regulates RAC1 signal transduction and downstream biological processes including the organization of the cytoskeleton, cell migration and cell proliferation (PubMed:25684205). The BCR(KBTBD4) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex targets CoREST corepressor complex components RCOR1, KDM1A/LSD1 and HDAC2 for proteasomal degradation with RCOR1 likely to be the primary target while degradation of KDM1A and HDAC2 is likely due to their association with RCOR1 (PubMed:33417871). It also targets RCOR3, MIER2 and MIER3 for proteasomal degradation as well as associated proteins ZNF217 and RREB1 with degradation being dependent on the presence of an ELM2 domain in the target proteins (PubMed:36997086). The BCR(ARMC5) complex mediates premature transcription termination of transcripts that are unfavorably configured for transcriptional elongation by mediating ubiquitination of Pol II subunit POLR2A (PubMed:35687106, PubMed:38225631, PubMed:39504960, PubMed:39667934). Required for 'Lys-63'-linked ubiquitination of large ribosomal subunit protein MRPL12 (PubMed:37526061). Protects against human enterovirus D68 infection by mediating the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of viral protein VP1 (PubMed:40396757)
Disease associations
Pseudohypoaldosteronism 2EPHA2E
An autosomal dominant disorder characterized by severe hypertension, hyperkalemia, hyperchloremia, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, and correction of physiologic abnormalities by thiazide diuretics.
Neurodevelopmental disorder with or without autism or seizuresNEDAUS
An autosomal dominant disorder manifesting in infancy and characterized by global developmental delay, variably impaired intellectual development, and speech delay. Some patients have seizures, others have autistic features or behavioral abnormalities. Additional variable features include cardiac defects, failure to thrive, or brain imaging anomalies.
Sources
Last updated 5/6/2026, 5:25:43 AM
