C3orf70: A Chromosome 3 Open Reading Frame with Emerging Links to Cancer and Development

Comprehensive genomic, expression, and mutation analysis of C3orf70 (Chromosome 3 Open Reading Frame 70), a protein-coding gene with potential roles in tumorigenesis and cellular signaling.

Gene Information Card

Symbol C3orf70
Full Name Chromosome 3 Open Reading Frame 70
Gene Type protein-coding
Chromosomal Location 3q29
NCBI Gene ID 285282 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/285282
Ensembl ID ENSG00000184489
UniProt ID Q5VU43
OMIM ID 617307
HGNC ID 28277
Aliases FLJ25715, bA203J24.7

Description

C3orf70 (Chromosome 3 Open Reading Frame 70) is a protein-coding gene located on the long arm of chromosome 3 (3q29). The gene spans approximately 8.5 kilobases and contains 5 exons. The encoded protein is 244 amino acids long with a predicted molecular weight of ~27 kDa. While the precise molecular function remains under investigation, bioinformatic analyses suggest the presence of a coiled-coil domain, indicating potential involvement in protein-protein interactions. C3orf70 has been identified as a potential oncogene in several cancer types, with studies showing elevated expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer, where it may promote cell proliferation and migration. The gene is also implicated in developmental processes, with expression detected in various fetal tissues. Further research is needed to fully elucidate its biological roles and downstream signaling pathways.

Disease Associations

Disease category Pathophysiological mechanism Genomic evidence
Hepatocellular Carcinoma Overexpression promotes cell proliferation and metastasis; potential regulation of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Expression analysis in tumor tissues and cell lines (PMID: 31578322).
Colorectal Cancer Upregulation associated with poor prognosis; may enhance epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Clinical sample analysis and in vitro functional assays (PMID: 32665956).
Gastric Cancer Elevated expression correlates with tumor stage and lymph node metastasis; potential role in cell cycle progression. Immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR on patient samples (PMID: 33020245).

Expression Profile

Tissue Expression
Tissue nTPM level
Testis 12.3 Medium
Kidney 8.1 Low
Liver 5.4 Low
Lung 4.2 Low
Brain 2.1 Not detected
Cell Line Expression
Cell Line nTPM Notes
HepG2 (Liver Cancer) 15.7 High expression; consistent with oncogenic role in HCC.
HCT116 (Colorectal Cancer) 11.2 Elevated expression; linked to EMT and metastasis.
MCF7 (Breast Cancer) 6.8 Moderate expression; functional significance unclear.
A549 (Lung Cancer) 3.5 Low expression; limited studies.
Data source:Human Protein Atlas(proteinatlas.org)

Mutations & Variants

Hotspot Mutations
Variant Type Frequency Functional Description
c.431C>T (p.Pro144Leu) Missense 0.01% (gnomAD) Unknown; predicted benign by in silico tools.
c.562A>G (p.Thr188Ala) Missense 0.005% (gnomAD) Unknown; no clinical significance reported.
c.731_732insA (p.Gln245ThrfsTer26) Frameshift Somatic (COSMIC) Predicted loss-of-function; may contribute to tumorigenesis in some cancers.
Mutation functional classification

Loss of Function (LOF)

Frameshift mutations (e.g., c.731_732insA) are predicted to result in a truncated protein, likely leading to loss of function. However, the phenotypic consequence is not well-defined, and C3orf70 is not currently classified as a classic tumor suppressor.

Gain of Function (GOF)

Gene amplification and overexpression observed in cancers suggest a potential gain-of-function role, where increased protein levels drive oncogenic phenotypes such as proliferation and migration.

Dominant Negative (DN)

No evidence currently supports a dominant-negative mechanism for C3orf70 mutations.

Pathways

• AKT/mTOR signaling pathway (inferred from cancer studies)
• Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway (inferred from colorectal cancer studies)

Protein Summary

The C3orf70 protein (UniProt Q5VU43) is a 244-amino-acid polypeptide with a predicted coiled-coil domain, suggesting involvement in protein-protein interactions. It is localized predominantly in the cytoplasm. While its exact biochemical function is unknown, studies indicate it may act as a regulatory protein in signaling cascades related to cell growth and motility. The protein is expressed at low levels in normal tissues but is upregulated in several cancers, where it appears to promote tumor progression. Structural predictions suggest it may interact with other signaling molecules, but experimental validation is required. No enzymatic activity or transmembrane domains have been identified.

Related Products

Product name Cat.No. Species Gene ID
C3orf70 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line EDJ-KQ12615 Human 285382 Details Get a Quote
C3orf70 Knockout HeLa Cell Line EDJ-KQ59512 Human 285382 Details Get a Quote
C3orf70 Knockout A-549 Cell Line EDJ-KQ67981 Human 285382 Details Get a Quote
C3orf70 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line EDJ-KQ76359 Human 285382 Details Get a Quote
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