The protein encoded by this gene is part of the forkhead family or 'winged-helix' transcription factors that are important in developmental processes, immune system regulation, metabolism, cancer and aging. This gene family has over 100 members, subdivided into classes (A-Q) based on phylogeny. The encoded protein is proposed to regulate development of the thymus and differentiation of keratinocytes. Mutations in this gene cause severe primary T-cell immunodeficiency and congenital alopecia. In mouse mutations of this gene underlie the phenotype of the nude mouse, which has been widely used as a model system in oncology, immunology, dermatology, and transplantation studies. In humans mutations in this gene have been correlated with T-cell immunodeficiency, the skin disorder congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants that encode different protein isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2013].
Volpi, Yamazaki, Brauer, van Rooijen, Hayashida, Slavotinek, Sun Kuehn, Di Rocco, Rivolta, Bortolomai, Du, Felgentreff, Ott de Bruin, Hayashida, Freedman, Marcovecchio, Capuder, Rath, Luche, Hagedorn et al.: "EXTL3
mutations cause skeletal dysplasia, immune deficiency, and developmental delay. ..." in: The Journal of experimental medicine, Vol. 214, Issue 3, pp. 623-637, (2017) (PubMed).
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