HomeAboutRankingsData Sources
© 2026 GeneE
🧬
GeneE
5 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
ⓘGeneE is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
FSCN3
fascin actin-bundling protein 3
Chromosome 7 · 7q32.1
NCBI Gene: 29999Ensembl: ENSG00000106328.10HGNC: HGNC:3961UniProt: A0A140VK18
11PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
growth conecell projection membraneactin filament bindingestablishment or maintenance of cell polaritytype 2 diabetes mellituspeptic ulcer diseaseduodenal ulcerhypospadias
✦AI Summary

FSCN3 (fascin actin-bundling protein 3) is a testis-specific actin-bundling protein localized to chromosome 7.3 that plays crucial roles in spermatogenesis and male fertility. The protein shares structural homology with fascin family members, encoding a 498 amino acid protein of approximately 56 kDa 1. FSCN3 is specifically expressed in elongating spermatids, where it localizes to the anterior spermatid head in subacrosomal spaces and functions in microfilament reorganization during spermiogenesis 1. The protein is retained in mature spermatozoa, suggesting involvement in fertilization-related processes 1. In terms of disease relevance, FSCN3 is significantly downregulated in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), a condition characterized by impaired spermatogenesis 2. It has been identified as a hub gene associated with spermatogenesis, with expression levels and methylation patterns linked to testicular pathology and infertility 2 3. Beyond reproductive function, recent exome-wide association studies identified FSCN3 as a novel locus associated with back pain phenotypes through loss-of-function variants, representing a second gene mechanism for this condition and suggesting broader musculoskeletal relevance 4. These findings indicate FSCN3 as a potential therapeutic target for both male infertility and back pain-related disorders.

Sources cited
1
FSCN3 is a testis-specific, spermatid-specific actin-bundling protein localized to subacrosomal spaces; chromosome 7q31.3 localization; 498 amino acid, 56 kDa protein; expression in elongating spermatids and mature spermatozoa
PMID: 11925108
2
FSCN3 identified as hub gene for spermatogenesis; significantly downregulated in NOA and testicular germ cell tumors; methylation levels associated with pathogenesis
PMID: 37891374
3
FSCN3 upregulated in men with late maturation arrest; identified as biomarker for spermatogenic impairment in NOA
PMID: 24012201
4
FSCN3 identified via exome-wide association study as novel gene contributing to back pain through loss-of-function variants
PMID: 37895311
5
FSCN3 characterized as testis-specific actin-bundling protein involved in spermatid development; molecular characterization and porcine mapping
PMID: 17065803
Disease Associationsⓘ20
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.48Moderate
peptic ulcer diseaseOpen Targets
0.19Weak
duodenal ulcerOpen Targets
0.15Weak
hypospadiasOpen Targets
0.12Weak
bone remodeling diseaseOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
placenta praeviaOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
skin cancerOpen Targets
0.10Suggestive
intelligenceOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
poisoningOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
response to xenobiotic stimulusOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
gestational diabetesOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
attention deficit hyperactivity disorderOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
autism spectrum disorderOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
multinodular goiterOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
HypocalcemiaOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
liver diseaseOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
Miyoshi myopathyOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Bartsocas-Papas syndrome 1Open Targets
0.01Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
male infertilityOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
FSCN2Shared pathway57%SH3D21Shared pathway50%GTSF1LCo-mentioned in literature50%SPATS1Co-mentioned in literature40%UBQLN3Co-mentioned in literature40%FSCN1Shared pathway36%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Ovary
18%
Liver
16%
Lung
13%
Brain
10%
Heart
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
FSCN3FSCN2SH3D21GTSF1LSPATS1UBQLN3FSCN1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q9NQT6
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.12LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.85 [0.65–1.12]
RankingsWhere FSCN3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #16,756of 20,598
    Most Researched11
  • #11,518of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.12
Genes detectedFSCN3
Sources retrieved5 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
5
1
Identification of hub genes associated with spermatogenesis by bioinformatics analysis.
PMID: 37891374
Sci Rep · 2023
1.00
2
Multi-Trait Exome-Wide Association Study of Back Pain-Related Phenotypes.
PMID: 37895311
Genes (Basel) · 2023
0.80
3
Characterization of the porcine FSCN3 gene: cDNA cloning, genomic structure, mapping and polymorphisms.
PMID: 17065803
Cytogenet Genome Res · 2006
0.60
4
Potential biomarkers of nonobstructive azoospermia identified in microarray gene expression analysis.
PMID: 24012201
Fertil Steril · 2013
0.40
5
Testis fascin (FSCN3): a novel paralog of the actin-bundling protein fascin expressed specifically in the elongate spermatid head.
PMID: 11925108
Exp Cell Res · 2002
0.20