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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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NANOS3
nanos C2HC-type zinc finger 3
Chromosome 19 · 19p13.12
NCBI Gene: 342977Ensembl: ENSG00000187556.8HGNC: HGNC:22048UniProt: P60323
22PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
protein bindingmRNA destabilizationperinuclear region of cytoplasmgerm cell developmentneurodegenerative diseaseprimary ovarian insufficiencyAbnormality of the skeletal systemazoospermia
✦AI Summary

NANOS3 encodes a zinc finger RNA-binding protein that plays crucial roles in germ cell development and maintenance. The protein regulates primordial germ cell (PGC) survival by suppressing apoptotic pathways during embryogenesis and maintaining the undifferentiated state of germ cells 1. NANOS3 functions through post-transcriptional mechanisms, binding to specific mRNAs and regulating their translation and stability 2. In cooperation with DND1, NANOS3 forms a complex that restricts germ cell specification by repressing translation of target mRNAs, including SOX4, within processing bodies (P-bodies) 3. The protein maintains pluripotency by prolonging the undifferentiated state and delaying differentiation 4. NANOS3 expression is normally restricted to testis and brain but becomes aberrantly expressed in various cancers 2. Mutations in NANOS3 are associated with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), contributing to follicle exhaustion and infertility 56. The gene's dysregulation has been implicated in cancer progression, where it promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell proliferation, and chemoresistance in glioblastoma and lung cancer 72. NANOS3 is essential for both male and female fertility, with its dysfunction leading to reproductive disorders.

Sources cited
1
NANOS3 suppresses apoptosis in primordial germ cells during migration and maintains PGC population
PMID: 34417763
2
NANOS3 is a zinc finger RNA-binding protein that binds mRNAs and regulates post-transcriptional processes
PMID: 25904364
3
NANOS3 cooperates with DND1 to restrict germ cell specification by repressing translation in P-bodies
PMID: 40410171
4
NANOS3 overexpression prolongs pluripotency and delays differentiation
PMID: 27768780
5
NANOS3 mutations are associated with primary ovarian insufficiency
PMID: 26243799
6
NANOS3 is linked to nonsyndromic POI and follicle exhaustion
PMID: 34794894
7
NANOS3 promotes cell proliferation, migration, and chemoresistance in glioblastoma
PMID: 32508533
8
NANOS3 expression is normally restricted to testis and brain but aberrantly expressed in cancers
PMID: 25904364
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.36Weak
primary ovarian insufficiencyOpen Targets
0.20Weak
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.13Weak
azoospermiaOpen Targets
0.09Suggestive
partial chromosome Y deletionOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
46,XX gonadal dysgenesisOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
spinocerebellar ataxia type 32Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
Kallmann syndromeOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
isochromosomy YpOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 50Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 25Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 57Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 71Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure, X-linked, 2Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
asthmaOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
hypogonadotropic hypogonadismOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
congenital bilateral absence of vas deferensOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
Isolated follicle stimulating hormone deficiencyOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
46,XX testicular disorder of sex developmentOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
spermatogenic failure 12Open Targets
0.06Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
DAZLProtein interaction86%PUM2Protein interaction86%PRDM14Protein interaction86%PUM1Protein interaction60%DND1Protein interaction53%NANOS2Shared pathway50%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Heart
12%
Ovary
10%
Lung
5%
Bone Marrow
2%
Liver
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
NANOS3DAZLPUM2PRDM14PUM1DND1NANOS2
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt P60323
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.45LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.91 [0.59–1.45]
RankingsWhere NANOS3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #13,703of 20,598
    Most Researched22
  • #14,820of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.45
Genes detectedNANOS3
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Genetics of primary ovarian insufficiency: new developments and opportunities.
PMID: 26243799
Hum Reprod Update · 2015
1.00
2
Genetics of ovarian insufficiency and defects of folliculogenesis.
PMID: 34794894
Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab · 2022
0.90
3
Gene Alterations and Expression Spectrum of NANOS3 in Nonobstructive Azoospermia.
PMID: 34417763
Reprod Sci · 2022
0.80
4
Nanos3, a cancer-germline gene, promotes cell proliferation, migration, chemoresistance, and invasion of human glioblastoma.
PMID: 32508533
Cancer Cell Int · 2020
0.70
5
Efficient derivation of embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cell-like cells in cattle.
PMID: 38355134
J Reprod Dev · 2024
0.60