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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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C1QL3
complement C1q like 3
Chromosome 10 · 10p13
NCBI Gene: 389941Ensembl: ENSG00000165985.12HGNC: HGNC:19359UniProt: A0A3B0J0F3
18PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
synaptic cleftsynapsemaintenance of synapse structuretrans-synaptic signaling, modulating synaptic transmissionalcohol drinkingAlkalosisAbnormality of the gastrointestinal tractplacental retention
✦AI Summary

C1QL3 (complement C1q-like 3) is a secreted synaptic organizer with dual roles in neural circuit formation and glucose homeostasis. In the brain, C1QL3 functions as a synaptic organizer that regulates excitatory synapse formation in the hippocampus and determines postsynaptic kainate receptor localization at mossy fiber synapses 1. C1QL3 exerts these effects by binding to the adhesion-GPCR BAI3 through a hexameric complex mechanism involving calcium-mediated interactions 2. Loss of C1QL3 impairs neuronal integrity, including dendritic arborization and spine density, while simultaneously affecting microglial activation and producing hyperactivity with working memory deficits 3. Metabolically, C1QL3 acts as a negative regulator of glucose homeostasis. Via BAI3 signaling in pancreatic β-cells, C1QL3 inhibits cAMP-stimulated insulin secretion 4, a mechanism particularly relevant in obesity-associated diabetes 5. Systemic C1QL3 knockout improves glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and lipid metabolism, with reduced hepatic glucose output and hepatic steatosis 6. These findings reveal C1QL3 as a pleiotropic regulator integrating synaptic plasticity with metabolic control, positioning it as a potential therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes and metabolic disorders.

Sources cited
1
C1QL3 is a synaptic organizer released from mossy fibers that determines postsynaptic kainate receptor localization in the hippocampus and regulates synapse formation between basolateral amygdala and prefrontal cortex
PMID: 28219683
2
C1QL3 forms a hexameric complex with BAI3 adhesion-GPCR through calcium-mediated interactions, enabling synaptic organization
PMID: 40316654
3
C1QL3 knockout damages neuronal integrity (dendritic arbors and spine density), affects microglial activation, and impairs short working memory while increasing spontaneous activity
PMID: 38379452
4
C1QL3 inhibits cAMP-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells via BAI3 signaling, with implications for type 2 diabetes progression in obesity
PMID: 30228187
5
C1QL3-BAI3 signaling represents a noncanonical pathway inhibiting cAMP-dependent insulin secretion, contributing to β-cell dysfunction in impaired glucose tolerance
PMID: 37358504
6
CTRP13/C1QL3 deficiency improves glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and reduces hepatic glucose output and steatosis, positioning C1QL3 as a negative metabolic regulator
PMID: 37844630
Disease Associationsⓘ20
alcohol drinkingOpen Targets
0.36Weak
AlkalosisOpen Targets
0.31Weak
Abnormality of the gastrointestinal tractOpen Targets
0.26Weak
placental retentionOpen Targets
0.23Weak
corneal neovascularizationOpen Targets
0.16Weak
connective tissue diseaseOpen Targets
0.11Weak
attention deficit hyperactivity disorderOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
hereditary attention deficit-hyperactivity disorderOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder 8Open Targets
0.07Suggestive
Potocki-Lupski syndromeOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
Tourette syndromeOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
obesityOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
autismOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
non-alcoholic fatty liver diseaseOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
semantic dementiaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
coronary artery diseaseOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
X-linked severe congenital neutropeniaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Blackfan-Diamond anemiaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
intellectual disability, autosomal recessive 59Open Targets
0.05Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
ADGRB3Protein interaction83%GRIK4Protein interaction80%C1QL2Shared pathway56%C1QL4Shared pathway50%CBLN3Shared pathway50%CBLN2Shared pathway40%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Liver
1%
Lung
1%
Heart
1%
Bone Marrow
0%
Ovary
0%
Gene Interaction Network
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C1QL3ADGRB3GRIK4C1QL2C1QL4CBLN3CBLN2
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q5VWW1
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.79LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.54Intermediate
Observed/Expected LoF0.34 [0.17–0.79]
RankingsWhere C1QL3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #14,649of 20,598
    Most Researched18
  • #6,507of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.79
Genes detectedC1QL3
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
RTN4/NoGo-receptor binding to BAI adhesion-GPCRs regulates neuronal development.
PMID: 34758294
Cell · 2021
1.00
2
Structure of the complex of C1q-like 3 protein with adhesion-GPCR BAI3.
PMID: 40316654
Commun Biol · 2025
0.90
3
The C1q complement family of synaptic organizers: not just complementary.
PMID: 28219683
Curr Opin Neurobiol · 2017
0.80
4
CTRP13 attenuates atherosclerosis by inhibiting endothelial cell ferroptosis via activating GCH1.
PMID: 39541845
Int Immunopharmacol · 2024
0.70
5
Complement 1q-like-3 protein inhibits insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells via the cell adhesion G protein-coupled receptor BAI3.
PMID: 30228187
J Biol Chem · 2018
0.60