Stearoyl Coenzyme A Desaturase 3 (SCD3)

Scd3 is restricted to mouse skin, specifically to the sebaceous gland. The Scd3 gene codes for a transcript of 4.9 kb with an open reading frame that results in a 359-amino-acid protein. Scd3 shares 91 and 88% identity in the protein-coding region with Scd1 and Scd2. Scd3 expression is higher in male mouse skin than in female mouse skin. The promoter sequence of Scd3 reveals similarity with Scd1 in the proximal region but also possesses several distinctive features including the polyunsaturated fatty acid-response element. Scd3 is expressed in the skin of young asebia mutant mice in the absence of Scd1. Scd3 expression changes during the mouse hair cycle but not as dramatically as Scd1. The tissue-specific and sex-dependent expression of Scd3 suggests the presence of gene- and hormonal-specific control mechanisms.