Mouse TCA-3 is a member of the CC beta family of chemokines. The human chemokine I-309, which shares approximately 42% amino acid (aa) sequence identity, has been assumed to be the homologue of mouse TCA-3. Mouse TCA-3 and human I-309 also share significant sequence homology in the 5' flanking region of their genes and each contain an extra pair of cysteine residues not found in most other chemokines.
TCA-3 cDNA encodes a 92 aa residue precursor protein with a predicted 23 aa signal peptide that is cleaved to produce a 69 aa mature protein. The sequence of TCA-3 contains one potential N-linked glycosylation site. Mouse TCA-3 is found on the distal portion of mouse chromosome 11 in a cluster with MIP-1 alpha, MIP-1 beta and JE. TCA-3 acts by binding to the seven transmembrane spanning G-protein-coupled receptor, CCR8. TCA-3 has been shown to chemoattract T-cells.