Gene:
ornithine decarboxylase antizyme 3
Gene ID:
190976
Symbol:
OAZ3
Species:
1000
Description:
Ornithine decarboxylase catalyzes the conversion of ornithine to putrescine in the first and apparently rate-limiting step in polyamine biosynthesis. The ornithine decarboxylase antizymes play a role in the regulation of polyamine synthesis by binding to and inhibiting ornithine decarboxylase. Antizyme expression is auto-regulated by polyamine-enhanced translational frameshifting. In contrast to antizymes 1 and 2, which are widely expressed throughout the body, antizyme 3 transcription is restricted to testis germ cells. Thus antizyme 3, encoded by this gene, is a possible candidate for heritable forms of human male infertility.