In human, the MCOLN3 gene resides on the short arm of chromosome 1 at 1p22.3. The gene is split in 12 exons, which entail the open reading frame of 1659 nucleotides. The encoded protein, TRPML3, has 553 amino acid with a predicted molecular weight of ≈64 kDa. Computational analyses of the secondary structure predict the presence of six transmembrane domains, an ion transport motif (PF00520) and a transient receptor potential motif (PS50272).
In the mouse, Mcoln3, is located on the distal end of chromosome 3 at cytogenetic band qH2. Human and mouse TRPML3 proteins share 91% sequence identity.[7]
All vertebrate species, for which a genomic sequence is available, harbor the MCOLN3 gene. Homologs of MCOLN3 are also present in the genome of insects (Drosophila melanogaster), nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans), sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and lower organisms including Hydra and Dictyostelium.
