### NECTIN3 Gene Overview

**Gene Symbol:** NECTIN3  
**Location:** Human chromosome 11p15.4  
**Gene Type:** Protein-coding

### 1. Associated Genes
While the summaries provided highlight NECTIN3's interactions with **NECTIN2** and **PVR**, it is also associated with other genes, including:

- **AFADIN (AFDN)**: This gene encodes a cytoskeletal protein that plays a significant role in linking cadherins and other membrane proteins, including nectins, at cell junctions.
- **CDC42**: This gene is involved in regulating cell morphology, motility, and cell cycle progression; it interacts with NECTIN3 during signaling pathways.
- **RAC1**: Another gene related to small G-proteins that modulate actin reorganization and are activated by NECTIN3-mediated trans-interactions.
- **SERTOLI1 (or NR5A1)**: Related to Sertoli cells in the testes and may influence Spermatogenesis when interacting with NECTIN3.

### 2. Aging and Age-Related Diseases
While specific age-related associations with NECTIN3 are under-explored, some considerations include:

- **Congenital Ocular Defects**: Mutations within NECTIN3 have been implicated in developmental disorders that may manifest during early life but can have long-lasting consequences impacting vision.
- **Cell Adhesion and Tumorigenesis**: Altered function of adhesion molecules, including NECTIN3, has been noted in various cancers, which could ostensibly relate to aging as cancer incidence typically rises with age.
- **Potential Role in Neurodegeneration**: Given its involvement in synapse formation and junction integrity, changes in NECTIN3 function may play a role in neurodegenerative diseases, although research specifically linking NECTIN3 to aging processes or diseases remains limited.

### 3. Drug Interactions
Currently, no specific drugs or drug classes have been explicitly tied to NECTIN3 modulation in the literature. However, due to its role in cell adhesion, drugs that target pathways involving cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and small GTPases like CDC42 and RAC may indirectly influence NECTIN3 activity.

### 4. Pathways and Biological Processes
NECTIN3 is involved in various biological processes and signaling pathways, including:

- **Cell-Cell Adhesion**: Plays a crucial role in the formation and maintenance of adherens junctions which is essential for tissue integrity.
- **Signaling Pathways**: Interacts with SRC and RAP1 to activate downstream signaling pathways leading to modulation of cell movement and survival.
- **Biological Processes**:
  - Cellular component organization
  - Developmental processes, particularly in ocular structures.
  - Synapse assembly and plasticity.

In summary, NECTIN3 is a significant member of the nectin family facilitating cell adhesion and cellular communication, with implications for ocular development and potentially for cellular behaviors relevant to cancer and aging. Further research will elucidate its roles in health and disease more comprehensively.