CREB Regulated Transcription Coactivator 3 (CRTC3)

By searching databases for sequences similar to TORC1 (MECT1), Iourgenko et al. (2003) identified TORC3. The deduced 618-amino acid protein contains an N-terminal coiled-coil domain and a protein kinase A phosphorylation site. TORC3 shares 32% amino acid identity with TORC1.

By cotransfection of TORC3 and reporter genes in HeLa cells, Iourgenko et al. (2003) found that TORC3 potently activated expression of genes driven by the IL8 promoter or a promoter carrying multiple CRE-like sequences.Forced expression of these TORCs in mouse primary muscle cells induced endogenous Pgc1-alpha and its target genes, resulting in increased mitochondrial oxidative capacity.