NCR3
Description
The NCR3 (natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 3) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 6.
NCR3, also known as CD337 and NKp30, is a protein encoded by the NCR3 gene in humans. It belongs to the NCR family of membrane receptors, alongside NCR1 (NKp46) and NCR2 (NKp44). NCR3 was initially identified in 1999 through Western blot analysis using specific monoclonal antibodies that reacted with a 30 kDa molecule, hence the name NKp30. The gene for NKp30 is located within the MHC class III region of the human MHC locus and encodes a 190 amino acid long type I transmembrane receptor belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF). It has a molecular weight of 30 kDa and contains a single Ig-like extracellular domain (138 amino acids), a transmembrane (TM) domain (19 amino acids), and a cytoplasmic tail (33 amino acids). The Ig-like domain consists of two antiparallel beta-sheets connected by a disulfide bond. The extracellular domain harbors two potential sites for N-linked glycosylation, which are involved in ligand binding. The TM domain includes a positively charged arginine residue that associates with negatively charged aspartate in the TM domain of ITAM adaptor molecules CD3ζ and FCεRIγ.
NCR3 is a cell membrane receptor expressed on natural killer (NK) cells. It is activated by binding to extracellular ligands such as BAG6 and NCR3LG1, triggering NK cell cytotoxicity against neighboring cells that produce these ligands. This mechanism plays a role in controlling NK cell cytotoxicity towards tumor cells. NCR3 engagement with BAG6 also promotes myeloid dendritic cell (DC) maturation by eliminating immature DCs and inducing NK cell production of TNFA and IFNG, which in turn promotes DC maturation.
NCR3 is also known as 1C7, CD337, LY117, MALS, NKp30.
