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GeneE
10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 15 days ago
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PCDHGC3
protocadherin gamma subfamily C, 3
Chromosome 5 · 5q31.3
NCBI Gene: 5098Ensembl: ENSG00000240184.7HGNC: HGNC:8716UniProt: Q9BR81
32PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
plasma membranecell adhesion molecule bindingcell adhesioncalcium-dependent cell-cell adhesionneurodevelopmental disorder with poor growth and skeletal anomaliesgenetic disorderglioblastoma multiformeatrial flutter
✦AI Summary

PCDHGC3 is a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule belonging to the protocadherin family, which are type I transmembrane proteins primarily expressed in the central nervous system 1. The protein localizes to cell-cell contact sites and mediates calcium-dependent cell adhesion 1. PCDHGC3 undergoes regulated ectodomain shedding via ADAM10-dependent proteolysis, a process that modulates its adhesive function 2. Despite initial classification as a potential tumor suppressor based on its adhesion properties, PCDHGC3 displays complex and context-dependent roles in cancer. In colorectal cancer, PCDHGC3 hypermethylation occurs during the adenoma-carcinoma transition, correlating with reduced expression and enhanced Wnt/mTOR signaling 3. Similarly, in neuroendocrine tumors and pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas, PCDHGC3 hypermethylation associates with increased metastatic potential and poor prognosis 45. Notably, in SDHB-mutated paragangliomas, PCDHGC3 promoter methylation can predict metastasis years before clinical manifestation 4. Conversely, in glioblastoma, PCDHGC3 shows elevated expression correlated with longer progression-free survival, suggesting tumor-suppressive functions 6. In clear cell renal carcinoma, altered PCDHGC3 expression via miRNA dysregulation correlates with prognosis 7. These divergent roles indicate PCDHGC3 functions as an epigenetically regulated biomarker with cancer-type-specific clinical significance.

Sources cited
1
Protocadherins are cadherin-related molecules highly expressed in brain, localize to cell-cell contact sites, and exhibit cell adhesion activity
PMID: 8508762
2
Pcdh gamma C3 undergoes ADAM10-dependent ectodomain shedding that modulates cell adhesion
PMID: 16751190
3
PCDHGC3 hypermethylation occurs in colorectal carcinomas during adenoma-carcinoma transition, correlates with reduced expression, and suppresses Wnt/mTOR signaling
PMID: 22249255
4
PCDHGC3 promoter hypermethylation in metastatic SDHB-PPGLs promotes cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; can predict future metastasis in primary tumors
PMID: 31216007
5
PCDHGC3 hypermethylation in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas correlates with reduced overall survival and has superior predictive value (AUC 0.95) compared to TP53 mutations
PMID: 38795318
6
PCDHGC3 is overexpressed in glioblastoma, and high expression correlates with longer progression-free survival; knockout reduces migration and decreases WNT signaling genes
PMID: 35897674
7
PCDHGC3 is a differentially expressed miRNA target gene with prognostic value in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
PMID: 30198869
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodevelopmental disorder with poor growth and skeletal anomaliesOpen Targets
0.52Moderate
genetic disorderOpen Targets
0.19Weak
glioblastoma multiformeOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
atrial flutterOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
gliomaOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
endometrial stromal sarcomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
esophageal adenocarcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
glioblastomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
ulcerative colitisOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
carcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
neuroendocrine carcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
melanomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
clear cell renal carcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
oligodendrogliomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
neuroendocrine neoplasmOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
nonpapillary renal cell carcinomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
ParagangliomaOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
PCDHGB4Shared pathway100%PCDH10Shared pathway75%PCDHA1Shared pathway75%PCDHA2Shared pathway75%PCDHA3Shared pathway75%PCDHA4Shared pathway75%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Heart
55%
Lung
49%
Ovary
32%
Liver
7%
Bone Marrow
5%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
PCDHGC3PCDHGB4PCDH10PCDHA1PCDHA2PCDHA3PCDHA4
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q9BR81
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.58Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
0.21Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.42 [0.30–0.58]
RankingsWhere PCDHGC3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #11,571of 20,598
    Most Researched32
  • #3,820of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.58 · top quartile
Genes detectedPCDHGC3
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
PCDHGC3 hypermethylation as a potential biomarker of intestinal neuroendocrine carcinomas.
PMID: 38795318
J Pathol · 2024
1.00
2
Epigenetic Deregulation of Protocadherin PCDHGC3 in Pheochromocytomas/Paragangliomas Associated With SDHB Mutations.
PMID: 31216007
J Clin Endocrinol Metab · 2019
0.90
3
Protocadherin Gamma C3 (PCDHGC3) Is Strongly Expressed in Glioblastoma and Its High Expression Is Associated with Longer Progression-Free Survival of Patients.
PMID: 35897674
Int J Mol Sci · 2022
0.80
4
Long-range epigenetic silencing of chromosome 5q31 protocadherins is involved in early and late stages of colorectal tumorigenesis through modulation of oncogenic pathways.
PMID: 22249255
Oncogene · 2012
0.70
5
PMID: 28094605
0.60