<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">HERC3 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td><strong>HERC3</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>4q22.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene</td>
<td><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/57524" target="_blank">57524</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl</td>
<td><a href="https://ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000163795" target="_blank">ENSG00000163795</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td><a href="https://omim.org/entry/609419" target="_blank">609419</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9NPA8" target="_blank">Q9NPA8</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Class</td>
<td>HECT domain E3 ubiquitin ligase</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Diseases</td>
<td>[Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Expression</td>
<td>Brain (substantia nigra, cortex), Liver, Lung</td>
</tr>
</table>
<table class="infobox infobox-gene">
<tr>
<th class="infobox-header" colspan="2">HERC3 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Symbol</td>
<td><strong>HERC3</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Full Name</td>
<td>HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Chromosome</td>
<td>4q22.1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">NCBI Gene</td>
<td><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/57524" target="_blank">57524</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Ensembl</td>
<td><a href="https://ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000163795" target="_blank">ENSG00000163795</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">OMIM</td>
<td><a href="https://omim.org/entry/609419" target="_blank">609419</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">UniProt</td>
<td><a href="https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9NPA8" target="_blank">Q9NPA8</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Protein Class</td>
<td>HECT domain E3 ubiquitin ligase</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Diseases</td>
<td>[Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease), [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="label">Expression</td>
<td>Brain (substantia nigra, cortex), Liver, Lung</td>
</tr>
</table>
<div class="infobox infobox-gene">
<div class="infobox-header">HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3</div>
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) encodes a HECT domain E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays critical roles in protein quality control, [autophagy](/mechanisms/autophagy-lysosome-neurodegeneration), and [NF-κB signaling](/entities/nf-kb). The protein is part of the HERC family of E3 ubiquitin ligases, which are characterized by their unique domain architecture combining HECT (Homologous to E6-AP C-Terminus) catalytic domains with multiple RLD (RCH1-Like Domain) regions. HERC3 has been increasingly recognized for its involvement in [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease) pathogenesis through interactions with [LRRK2](/genes/lrrk2), [alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein), and modulation of [protein quality control](/mechanisms/protein-quality-control-network) pathways.
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">Gene Symbol</span>
<span class="infobox-value">HERC3</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">Full Name</span>
<span class="infobox-value">HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">Chromosome</span>
<span class="infobox-value">4q22.1</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">NCBI Gene ID</span>
<span class="infobox-value">[57524](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/57524)</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">OMIM</span>
<span class="infobox-value">[609419](https://www.omim.org/entry/609419)</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">Ensembl ID</span>
<span class="infobox-value">[ENSG00000163795](https://www.ensembl.org/Human/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000163795)</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">UniProt ID</span>
<span class="infobox-value">[Q9NPA8](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q9NPA8)</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">Protein Length</span>
<span class="infobox-value">2,528 amino acids</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">Molecular Weight</span>
<span class="infobox-value">~280 kDa</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">Expression</span>
<span class="infobox-value">Brain (high), heart, liver, kidney</span>
</div>
<div class="infobox-row">
<span class="infobox-label">Associated Diseases</span>
<span class="infobox-value">Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, neurodegeneration</span>
</div>
</div>
The [HERC3](/genes/herc3) gene spans approximately 45 kb on chromosome 4q22.1 and consists of 60+ exons encoding a large protein of 2,528 amino acids. The gene belongs to the [HERC family](/entities/herc-family) of E3 ubiquitin ligases, which emerged early in eukaryotic evolution and has undergone significant expansion in vertebrates through gene duplication events [@marin2002].
The HERC3 protein possesses a distinctive multi-domain structure that underlies its diverse cellular functions:
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase in the [ubiquitin-proteasome system](/mechanisms/ubiquitin-proteasome-system), where it catalyzes the covalent attachment of ubiquitin molecules to target proteins. This process involves three key enzymatic steps:
The specificity of HERC3 for particular substrates is determined by its N-terminal RLD domains, which recognize specific motifs or conformations in substrate proteins. This allows HERC3 to participate in diverse cellular processes by regulating the stability and function of various protein targets [@kuhnle2012].
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) plays a crucial role in regulating [autophagy](/mechanisms/autophagy-lysosome-neurodegeneration), the cellular degradation pathway that maintains protein homeostasis and eliminates damaged organelles. Several key mechanisms have been identified:
BNIP3-mediated mitophagy: HERC3 regulates the degradation of BNIP3 (BCL2/adenovirus E1A 19kDa interacting protein 3), a mitophagy receptor that targets mitochondria for lysosomal degradation. Through HERC3-mediated ubiquitination of BNIP3, cells can fine-tune mitochondrial quality control. Dysregulation of this pathway leads to accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria, which is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases [@liu2020].
p62/SQSTM1 in selective autophagy: HERC3 interacts with p62/SQSTM1 (Sequestosome 1), a selective autophagy receptor that aggregates ubiquitinated proteins for degradation. The ubiquitination of p62 by HERC3 regulates its ability to form phase-separated condensates that target cargo to autophagosomes. This pathway is particularly important for clearing protein aggregates in neuronal cells [@kim2022].
Mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics: Through modulation of BNIP3 and other mitophagy receptors, HERC3 helps maintain mitochondrial network integrity. Impaired mitophagy leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and neuronal death—all key features of [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease) pathogenesis [@okamoto2022].
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) regulates the [NF-κB signaling](/entities/nf-kb) pathway, a critical cascade controlling inflammation, cell survival, and immune responses. In microglia (the immune cells of the brain), HERC3 modulates NF-κB activation through direct interaction with key signaling components. This regulation has important implications for neuroinflammation, which is a key contributor to neurodegenerative processes in both [Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) and [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease) [@yang2022].
The HECT domain E3 ligases, including HERC3, can function as both positive and negative regulators of NF-κB signaling depending on the substrate and cellular context. HERC3 can ubiquitinate upstream signaling molecules to promote their degradation or activate downstream effectors to enhance the response.
Emerging evidence points to a role for [HERC3](/genes/herc3) in mitochondrial dynamics and cellular energy metabolism. HERC3 influences mitochondrial fission and fusion processes through regulation of proteins involved in mitochondrial dynamics. Additionally, HERC3 affects mitochondrial biogenesis and function through modulation of PGC-1α (PPARG coactivator 1 alpha) and other master regulators of mitochondrial metabolism [@su2021].
The connections between HERC3, mitochondrial function, and energy metabolism are particularly relevant to neurodegeneration, as mitochondrial dysfunction is a central feature of [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease) pathogenesis, especially in dopaminergic neurons of the [substantia nigra](/brain-regions/substantia-nigra).
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) exhibits broad but tissue-specific expression patterns:
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) expression is regulated at multiple levels:
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) has emerged as a significant player in [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease) pathogenesis through multiple mechanisms:
LRRK2 interaction: HERC3 directly interacts with [LRRK2](/genes/lrrk2) (Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2), a protein kinase strongly linked to familial Parkinson's disease. This interaction modulates LRRK2 kinase activity and its ability to phosphorylate downstream targets. Given that LRRK2 mutations are a common cause of familial Parkinson's disease, the HERC3-LRRK2 connection provides a potential therapeutic target [@chen2023].
Alpha-synuclein regulation: HERC3 influences the aggregation and clearance of [alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein), the protein that forms Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease brains. Through its E3 ligase activity, HERC3 can ubiquitinate alpha-synuclein and promote its degradation via the [proteasome](/mechanisms/ubiquitin-proteasome-system) or autophagy pathways. However, in Parkinson's disease, this regulatory function may be compromised, contributing to alpha-synuclein accumulation [@zhao2024].
Protein quality control: The [ubiquitin-proteasome system](/mechanisms/ubiquitin-proteasome-system) and autophagy are both impaired in [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease), leading to accumulation of misfolded and damaged proteins. As a key E3 ligase in these pathways, HERC3 dysfunction contributes to this proteostatic failure. Research has shown that HERC3 expression is altered in Parkinson's disease brains, with some studies reporting decreased HERC3 levels that would compromise protein quality control [@tang2024].
Neuroinflammation: Through modulation of [NF-κB signaling](/entities/nf-kb), HERC3 regulates microglial activation and neuroinflammation. Chronic neuroinflammation is a key feature of Parkinson's disease progression, and HERC3 dysfunction may exacerbate inflammatory responses in the brain.
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) involvement in [Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease) is emerging from recent research:
Tau metabolism: HERC3 may regulate tau protein processing and clearance. Tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease involves accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurofibrillary tangles. HERC3-mediated ubiquitination could potentially target tau for degradation, though this pathway may be impaired in disease states.
Amyloid-beta effects: While direct interactions between HERC3 and amyloid-beta (Aβ) are less characterized, the protein quality control functions of HERC3 could influence Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Efficient clearance of Aβ aggregates requires functional autophagy and proteasome systems, both of which involve HERC3.
Oxidative stress: Alzheimer's disease brains exhibit high oxidative stress, and HERC3 has been implicated in oxidative stress response pathways. Dysregulation of HERC3 under oxidative conditions could contribute to neuronal dysfunction [@yashiro2018].
Population studies have identified several [HERC3](/genes/herc3) genetic variants that may influence neurodegenerative disease risk. These include:
Rare pathogenic variants in [HERC3](/genes/herc3) have been identified in some cases of early-onset neurodegeneration. These variants often affect the HECT domain catalytic activity or substrate recognition by the RLD domains. While definitive causal relationships require more study, these findings suggest that HERC3 haploinsufficiency or missense mutations may contribute to disease pathogenesis [@liu2022].
The emerging understanding of [HERC3](/genes/herc3) functions in neurodegeneration has highlighted several therapeutic strategies:
Enhancing HERC3 activity: Small molecules that enhance HERC3 E3 ligase activity could improve protein quality control in neurodegeneration. Such approaches would need to balance activation with potential off-target effects.
Modulating HERC3 substrates: Understanding which substrates are most relevant to disease pathogenesis could enable development of drugs that specifically promote ubiquitination of therapeutic targets like alpha-synuclein or tau.
Gene therapy approaches: Viral vector delivery of wild-type HERC3 could potentially restore deficient protein quality control in neurons. However, careful consideration of dosing and expression levels would be essential given the complex regulation of HERC3 activity.
Combination approaches: Targeting HERC3 alongside other components of protein quality control pathways (proteasome, autophagy) may provide synergistic benefits. For example, combination with autophagy enhancers could address multiple aspects of proteostatic failure.
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood have been explored as potential biomarkers for neurodegenerative disease:
Key experimental approaches for investigating [HERC3](/genes/herc3) include:
[HERC3](/genes/herc3) represents a critical node in the cellular protein quality control network with clear relevance to neurodegenerative diseases. Its functions in the [ubiquitin-proteasome system](/mechanisms/ubiquitin-proteasome-system), [autophagy](/mechanisms/autophagy-lysosome-neurodegeneration), [NF-κB signaling](/entities/nf-kb), and mitochondrial dynamics all connect to pathogenic mechanisms in [Parkinson's disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease-disease) and [Alzheimer's disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease). The interactions between HERC3 and established disease proteins like [LRRK2](/genes/lrrk2) and [alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein) further underscore its potential as a therapeutic target.
Future research priorities include:
Understanding the precise mechanisms by which HERC3 maintains neuronal protein homeostasis will be essential for developing effective neuroprotective strategies targeting this important E3 ubiquitin ligase.
The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving HERC3 — HECT and RLD Domain Containing E3 Ubiquitin Protein Ligase 3 discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis: