SHANK3 is a gene that encodes a protein known as SH3 and multiple ankyrin repeat domains protein 3. This protein is crucial for the structural and functional integrity of synaptic junctions in the brain. It plays a significant role in the postsynaptic density, a specialized region of the neuron that is essential for synaptic signaling. Variations or mutations in the SHANK3 gene are associated with various neurological and psychiatric disorders.
