ATXN3

Chr 14ADMulti

ataxin 3

Also known as: AT3, ATX3, JOS, MJD, MJD1, SCA3

The protein functions as a deubiquitinating enzyme that maintains protein homeostasis by trimming long polyubiquitin chains and regulating transcription, autophagy, and mTORC1 signaling. CAG repeat expansions from the normal 12-44 to 52-86 repeats cause Machado-Joseph disease (spinocerebellar ataxia-3), an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder with earlier age of onset correlating with higher repeat numbers. The pathogenic mechanism involves a dominant-negative effect of the mutant protein.

OMIMResearchSummary from RefSeq, OMIM, UniProt, Mechanism
MultiplemechanismAD/MultiLOEUF 0.492 OMIM phenotypes
Clinical SummaryATXN3
Population Constraint (gnomAD)
Constrained for loss-of-function variants (OE-LoF 0.26) despite low pLI — interpret in context.

Population Genetics & Constraint

gnomAD v4 — loss-of-function & missense intolerance

Moderate LoF intolerance
LoF Constraint
0.49LOEUF
pLI 0.106
Z-score 3.53
OE 0.26 (0.150.49)
Moderately constrained

More LoF-intolerant than ~75% of genes

Missense Constraint
1.35Z-score
OE missense 0.72 (0.630.83)
136 obs / 188.0 exp
Tolerant

Mild missense constraint

Observed / Expected Ratios
LoF OE0.26 (0.150.49)
00.351.4
Missense OE0.72 (0.630.83)
00.61.4
Synonymous OE0.81
01.21.6
LoF obs/exp: 7 / 26.7Missense obs/exp: 136 / 188.0Syn Z: 1.21
DN
0.74top 25%
GOF
0.6931th %ile
LOF
0.2580th %ile

This gene has evidence for multiple mechanisms of pathogenicity (gain-of-function and dominant-negative). The Badonyi & Marsh model scores dominant-negative highest among its predictions, but genomic evidence (constraint, ClinVar variant spectrum, and literature) most strongly supports gain-of-function. Different variants in this gene may act through different mechanisms — interpret in context of the specific variant.

GOFprediction above median · 1 literature citation
DNprediction above median

Note: In-silico variant effect predictors (SIFT, PolyPhen, REVEL, CADD) may underestimate pathogenicity of missense variants in genes with GOF or DN mechanisms. Consider functional evidence and clinical context.

Literature Evidence

GOFComparison of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 mouse models identifies early gain-of-function, cell-autonomous transcriptional changes in oligodendrocytesPMID:28854700

Predictions from Badonyi M, Marsh JA. PLoS ONE. 2024;19(8):e0307312.

ClinVar Variant Classifications

0 submitted variants in ClinVar

Protein Context — Lollipop Plot

ATXN3 · protein map & ClinVar variants

Showing all ClinVar variants across the protein. Search a specific variant to highlight its position.

3D Protein StructureAlphaFold

Clinical Trials

Active and recruiting trials from ClinicalTrials.gov

No active trials found for this gene.

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Clinical Literature
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