Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 3
XPLN
STA3
GEF3
Exchange Factor Found In Platelets And Leukemic And Neuronal Tissues, XPLN
Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (GEF) 3
RhoGEF Protein
DKFZP434F2429
Exchange Factor Found In Platelets And Leukemic And Neuronal Tissues
59.8 KDA Protein
Rho-like GTPases are involved in a variety of cellular processes, and they are activated by binding GTP and inactivated by conversion of GTP to GDP by their intrinsic GTPase activity. Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) accelerate the GTPase activity of Rho GTPases by catalyzing their release of bound GDP. This gene encodes a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, which specifically activates two members of the Rho GTPase family: RHOA and RHOB, both of which have a role in bone cell biology. It has been identified that genetic variation in this gene plays a role in the determination of bone mineral density (BMD), indicating the implication of this gene in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Forensic Context
A study in mice demonstrated that the ARHGEF3 gene was differentially expressed in blood leukocytes at 2 hours post-injury, showing downregulation in a burn injury model but upregulation in models of lipopolysaccharide infusion and trauma/hemorrhage [Brownstein et al. DOI:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00213.2005].