Nox3 - NADPH oxidase 3

This gene encodes a member of the NOX family of NADPH oxidases. These enzymes catalyze the transfer of electrons from NADPH to molecular oxygen to produce superoxide and other reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS generated by family members have been implicated in numerous biological functions including host defense, posttranlational processing of proteins, cellular signaling, regulation of gene expression, and cell differentiation. The protein encoded by this gene is expressed predominantly in the inner ear and is involved in the biogenesis of otoconia, which are crystalline structures of the inner ear involved in the perception of gravity and linear acceleration. In mouse mutations of this gene lead to the absence of otoconia and vestibular dysfunction. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2013]