SLC29A3
protein-codingsolute carrier family 29 member 3, the group of Solute carrier family 29
Gene summary
This gene encodes a nucleoside transporter. The encoded protein plays a role in cellular uptake of nucleosides, nucleobases, and their related analogs. Mutations in this gene have been associated with H syndrome, which is characterized by cutaneous hyperpigmentation and hypertrichosis, hepatosplenomegaly, heart anomalies, and hypogonadism. A related disorder, PHID (pigmented hypertrichosis with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), has also been associated with mutations at this locus. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described.[provided by RefSeq, Mar 2010]
MANE transcript
Inheritance
ClinVar variants
Top phenotype
gnomAD constraint
Max pathogenic AF
Genomic locus
External References & Databases
Transcript & Mutation Effects
hg38 • Region Span ~62.2 kbGenCC Phenotypes & Disease Associations
Curated gene-disease validity assertions and inheritance patterns
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0011273
Submitter: Labcorp Genetics (formerly Invitae)
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0011273
Submitter: ClinGen
*SLC29A3* was first reported in relation to autosomal recessive H syndrome in 2008 (Molho-Pessach V et al., PMID: 18940313). *SLC29A3* encodes an equilibrative nucleoside transporter that mediates transport of nucleosides across lysosomal and mitochondrial membranes, and is also present in endosomes (PMID: 39412751). Among patients with H syndrome, deficient *SLC29A3* function results in impaired nucleoside export from lysosomes and lysosomal accumulation of nucleosides (PMID: 22174130), which leads to histiocytic infiltration of numerous organs. This accumulation causes disease manifestations including cutaneous hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis, hepatosplenomegaly, hearing loss, heart anomalies, hypogonadism, hyperglycemia, low height, and hallux valgus and other joint contractures (as reviewed in PMID: 29527032). Per criteria outlined by the ClinGen Lumping and Splitting Working Group, we found no difference in molecular mechanism, inheritance pattern or phenotypic variability. Therefore, the following disease entities have been lumped into one disease entity: H syndrome, pigmented hypertrichosis with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus syndrome (PHID), Faisalabad histiocytosis (FHC), familial sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (FSHML), and some forms of dysosteosclerosis. Due to overlapping symptoms, these conditions are now all lumped together as "H syndrome". Fifteen variants (8 missense, 3 frameshift, 2 nonsense, canonical 2 splice site) that have been reported in 22 probands in 7 publications (PMIDs: 18940313, 20140240, 19336477, 19889517, 22875837, 22653152, 22238637) are included in this curation. More evidence is available in the literature, but the maximum score for genetic evidence (12 pts.) has been reached. The mechanism of pathogenicity is reported to be loss of function. This gene-disease relationship is also supported by the biochemical function of the gene product being consistent with the clinical and biochemical findings identified in individuals with H syndrome (PMID: 22174130), functional alteration in patient cells showing accumulation of *SLC29A3* protein (PMID: 19336477), expression in patient cells was significantly decreased compared to healthy controls (PMID: 19336477), and animal models that recapitulate the human phenotype (PMIDs: 31270333, 19336477). In summary, there is definitive evidence supporting the relationship between *SLC29A3* and autosomal recessive H syndrome. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in both the research and clinical diagnostic settings and has been upheld over time. This classification was approved by the ClinGen Lysosomal Diseases GCEP on May 7, 2024 (SOP Version 10). **Addendum from the Monogenic Diabetes GCEP**: Variants in SLC29A3 were first reported in association with diabetes in the form of pigmented hypertrichosis with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (PHID) syndrome in 2009 based on a homozygosity mapping study in six individuals in five unrelated families. Homozygosity for two truncation variants and five missense variants was identified (PMID:19336477). The mechanism for diabetes appears to be related to beta cell loss due to apoptosis induced by the loss of the *SLC29A3* gene product human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (hENT3) (PMID:26163994). The diabetes in PHID was originally described as predominantly antibody-negative (PMIDs:19175903,17461801). However, a recent case series reported that 4 out of 7 patients, all diagnosed between the ages of 3 and 14 with PHID, had at least one positive antibody (PMID:38163427). Therefore, the presence of autoantibodies should thus not preclude testing for PHID in children with diabetes in the presence of consanguinity along with features of PHID including dysmorphic facial features, characteristic skin lesions, hematological abnormalities, and developmental delay (PMID:38163427). Individuals presenting with diabetes and found to have PHID through genetic testing are recommended to undergo early hearing and vision screening to improve neurocognitive outcomes and to be referred to a specialized dermatologist for skin lesions to prevent joint contractures (PMID:38163427). Individuals presenting with features of SLC29A3-related disorders (H syndrome) and found to have biallelic pathogenic *SLC29A3* variants should undergo glycemic screening to enable early treatment for diabetes. This amendment was approved by the ClinGen Monogenic Diabetes GCEP on April 30, 2025.
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0009138
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0011273
Submitter: Orphanet
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0011273
Submitter: Genomics England PanelApp
Inheritance Pattern: AR
Disease ID:MONDO:0011273
Submitter: PanelApp Australia
Clinical Genomic Database (CGD)
Manifestation: Allergy/Immunology/Infectious; Audiologic/Otolaryngologic; Cardiovascular; Dermatologic; Endocrine; Gastrointestinal; Musculoskeletal
Intervention: Allergy/Immunology/Infectious; Audiologic/Otolaryngologic; Dermatologic; Endocrine
Rationale: Lipogranulomatous infiltration has been reported as benefiting from surgical interventions, radiotherapy, and medical treatment (eg, with cylophosphamide, prednisolone); Hormonal insufficiency, including hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, and growth hormone deficiency, may benefit from medical treatment; Individuals may manifest with early-onset hearing loss, and early recognition and treatment of hearing impairment may improve outcomes, including speech and language development
ClinVar Associated Diseases & Phenotypes
Reported disease conditions connected to SLC29A3 variants in ClinVar
ClinVar Variants & Pathogenicity by Type
Statistics based on transcript NM_018344.6. Only rare variants are included.
We include only reliable ClinVar variants with their consequences to MANE Select, MANE Plus Clinical transcripts, or transcripts with TSL equal to 1. Click a count to filter the variants table below.
Slight differences between displayed counts and ClinVar may occur due to a different transcript/consequence chosen by our variant effect predictor, or because we classify Benign/Likely benign as Likely benign and Pathogenic/Likely pathogenic as Likely pathogenic.
| Effect | PathogenicP | Likely pathogenicLP | VUS | Likely benignLB | BenignB | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| synonymous | 2 | 168 | 1 | 171 | ||
| missense | 1 | 10 | 222 | 18 | 3 | 254 |
| nonsense | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 | ||
| start loss | 1 | 1 | ||||
| frameshift | 19 | 3 | 22 | |||
| splice donor/acceptor (+/-2bp) | 4 | 7 | 1 | 12 | ||
| Total | 26 | 27 | 227 | 186 | 4 | 470 |
Highest pathogenic variant AF is 0.000115857336
Transcript Catalog
Annotated transcript isoforms across RefSeq and Ensembl databases
| Transcript ID | Source | Protein ID | Coding Exons | MANE Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RefSeq | NP_060814.4 | 6 | MANE Select | |
| Ensembl | ENSP00000362285.5 | 6 | MANE Select | |
| RefSeq | NP_001167569.1 | 5 | Standard | |
| RefSeq | NP_001350447.1 | 5 | Standard |
Gene Ontology (GO) Annotations & Pathways
Biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components and pathways
Pathways ConsensusPathDB
- Purine metabolism
- Transport of vitamins, nucleosides, and related molecules
- SLC-mediated transmembrane transport
- Transport of small molecules
- Pyrimidine metabolism
Biological Process
- nucleoside transmembrane transport
Molecular Function
- nucleoside transmembrane transporter activity
- protein binding
Cellular Component
- lysosomal membrane
- Golgi apparatus
- integral component of membrane
- late endosome membrane
- intracellular membrane-bounded organelle
gnomAD Constraint
Source:
- Gene type
- protein_coding
- Transcript type
- protein_coding
- Transcript
- ENST00000373189
- Coding exons
- 6
- Length
- 44128
- Individuals with no LoFs
- 125694
- Homozygous LoFs
- 1
- Heterozygous LoFs
- 53
- Defined
- 125748
- p
- 0.000215
| Z-Score | Observed | Expected | Observed/Expected | Mutation Rate | Total Possible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missense | -0.477 | 292 | 270 | 1.08 | 0.0000173 | 3055 |
| Missense (PolyPhen) | 103 | 90.015 | 1.1442 | 1056 | ||
| Synonymous | -1.49 | 145 | 124 | 1.17 | 0.00000894 | 1046 |
| Loss of Function | 0.652 | 12 | 14.7 | 0.816 | 7.28e-7 | 172 |
Population LoF Frequency
| Population | CAF | p-value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| African | 0.00031 | 0.00031 | rare |
| Latino/Admixed American | 0.00041 | 0.00040 | rare |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 0 | 0.0 | absent |
| East Asian | 0.00011 | 0.00011 | rare |
| Finnish | 0 | 0.0 | absent |
| European (Non-Finnish) | 0.00015 | 0.00015 | rare |
| South Asian | 0.00052 | 0.00049 | rare |
| Other | 0.00016 | 0.00016 | rare |
dbNSFP Gene Annotations
Source:
- Function
- FUNCTION: Mediates both influx and efflux of nucleosides across the membrane (equilibrative transporter). Mediates transport of adenine, adenosine and uridine, as well as several nucleoside analog drugs, such as anticancer and antiviral agents, including cladribine, cordycepin, tubercidin and AZT. Does not transport hypoxanthine. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:15701636}.;
Recessive Scores
- pRec
- 0.135
Intolerance Scores
- LoFtool
- 0.595
- RVIS EVS
- 0.43
- RVIS percentile EVS
- 77.29
Essentials
- Essential (CRISPR)
- N
- Essential (CRISPR2)
- N
- Essential (gene trap)
- N
- Indispensability pred.
- N
- Indispensability score
- 0.468
Gene Damage Prediction
| All | Recessive | Dominant | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mendelian | High | High | High |
| Primary Immunodeficiency | High | High | High |
| Cancer | High | High | High |