Popeye domain-containing protein 3 (POPDC3)

Popeye domain-containing protein 3 (POPDC3) is a transmembrane protein belonging to the Popeye domain-containing (POPDC) family, which also includes POPDC1 and POPDC2[3][1]. It is primarily expressed in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells and characterized by three transmembrane domains[3][6]. POPDC3 is a recently characterized cAMP-binding effector protein that participates in signal transduction within muscle cells, with a high-affinity cAMP-binding domain similar to that found in protein kinase A[1][2]. While its precise biochemical function remains under active investigation, POPDC3 is implicated in modulating membrane trafficking and the function of interacting membrane proteins[1][7]. Pathogenic variants in POPDC3 are causatively linked to limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 26 (LGMDR26) and have been associated with certain cardiac arrhythmias, including heart block[5][1]. POPDC3 also shows reduced expression in human gastric cancer tissues, where downregulation correlates with poor prognosis, indicating a possible tumor suppressor role in gastric and perhaps other cancers[5]. There are no current approved pharmacological agents specifically targeting POPDC3, and no mechanism of drug action or specific drug-biomarker relationships have been documented for patient selection or therapeutic monitoring[3][7]. In summary, POPDC3 is a membrane-associated cAMP effector with important roles in muscle and cardiac function and emerging connections to cancer biology, representing a novel class of signaling regulator but not currently a direct drug target[1][2][5][3][7].

Other names

Popeye domain cAMP effector 3POP3MGC22671bA355M14.1LGMDR26popeye domain containing 3