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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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GNAT3
G protein subunit alpha transducin 3
Chromosome 7 · 7q21.11
NCBI Gene: 346562Ensembl: ENSG00000214415.4HGNC: HGNC:22800UniProt: A8MTJ3
38PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Hub Gene
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein-containing complexGTPase activityG protein-coupled receptor bindingG-protein beta/gamma-subunit complex bindingThrombocytopeniapreeclampsiaHematemesisHepatitis
✦AI Summary

GNAT3 (G protein subunit alpha transducin 3) encodes the α subunit of gustducin, a heterotrimeric G protein central to chemosensory signal transduction. In taste tissues, GNAT3 couples taste receptors (TAS1R2/TAS1R3 for sweet, TAS1R1/TAS1R3 for umami, and T2R family for bitter) to phosphodiesterase, reducing intracellular cAMP and cGMP levels and triggering calcium influx and neurotransmitter release 1. Beyond taste, GNAT3 functions as a lumenal sugar sensor in the gut, regulating sodium-glucose transporter SGLT1 expression and secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide [UniProt]. Genetic variation in GNAT3 affects sucrose taste perception and contributes to metabolic syndrome risk; rs11760281 in GNAT3 showed strong association with metabolic syndrome in Mexican Americans (P=0.0003, relative risk=1.6) 23. GNAT3 also plays immunomodulatory roles in non-gustatory tissues: GNAT3 expression in pancreatic metaplastic tuft cells suppresses pancreatic cancer progression by limiting myeloid-derived suppressor cell expansion 4, while gingival GNAT3-expressing chemosensory cells regulate oral microbiota and control periodontitis through bitter taste receptor signaling 5. These findings suggest GNAT3's broader role in metabolic and immune homeostasis beyond taste perception.

Sources cited
1
GNAT3 acts as α subunit of gustducin governing sweet, savory, and bitter taste transduction
PMID: 34972209
2
rs11760281 in GNAT3 associated with metabolic syndrome with P=0.0003 and relative risk=1.6 in Mexican Americans
PMID: 22456541
3
Genetic variation in GNAT3 affects human sucrose taste perception and relates to diabetes and obesity risk
PMID: 20660058
4
GNAT3 expression in pancreatic tuft cells suppresses pancreatic cancer progression and limits immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells
PMID: 32882403
5
Gingival GNAT3-expressing chemosensory cells detect bacterial metabolites via bitter taste receptors to control periodontitis through host innate immunity
PMID: 31582750
Disease Associationsⓘ20
ThrombocytopeniaOpen Targets
0.38Weak
preeclampsiaOpen Targets
0.34Weak
HematemesisOpen Targets
0.29Weak
HepatitisOpen Targets
0.28Weak
placental retentionOpen Targets
0.13Weak
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
dry eye syndromeOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
polycystic ovary syndromeOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
Diamond-Blackfan anemiaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
type 2 diabetes mellitusOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
coronary artery diseaseOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
breast adenosisOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
medullary thyroid gland carcinomaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
hepatocellular carcinomaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
ovarian dysfunctionOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
cholangiocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
periodontitisOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
shoulder fractureOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
cardiomyopathyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
TAS2R13Protein interaction100%TAS2R14Protein interaction100%TAS2R43Protein interaction100%TAS2R31Protein interaction100%TAS2R45Protein interaction100%TAS2R46Protein interaction100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Lung
0%
Heart
0%
Brain
0%
Ovary
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Liver
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GNAT3TAS2R13TAS2R14TAS2R43TAS2R31TAS2R45TAS2R46
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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PDB8VY9 · 2.88 Å · EM
View on RCSB ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.01LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.03Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.56 [0.33–1.01]
RankingsWhere GNAT3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #10,486of 20,598
    Most Researched38
  • #9,812of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.01
Genes detectedGNAT3
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Worldwide diversity, association potential, and natural selection in the superimposed taste genes, CD36 and GNAT3.
PMID: 34972209
Chem Senses · 2022
1.00
2
LPAR5, GNAT3 and partial amino acid transporters messenger RNA expression patterns in digestive tracts, metabolic organs and muscle tissues of growing goats.
PMID: 30378518
Animal · 2019
0.90
3
Gustation genetics: sweet gustducin!
PMID: 20660058
Chem Senses · 2010
0.80
4
The Gustatory Sensory G-Protein GNAT3 Suppresses Pancreatic Cancer Progression in Mice.
PMID: 32882403
Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol · 2021
0.70
5
Candidate Gene of NOS3, MMP3, AGT, and AGT1R and Pathway Analyses for Platelet Reactivity and Clinical Outcomes of Repeat Revascularization After First PCI in Chinese Patients.
PMID: 34860335
Cardiovasc Drugs Ther · 2023
0.60