Protein ITFG3 also known as family with sequence similarity 234 member A (FAM234A) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ITFG3 gene. Here, the gene is explored as encoded by mRNA found in Homo sapiens. The FAM234A gene is conserved in mice, rats, chickens, zebrafish, dogs, cows, frogs, chimpanzees, and rhesus monkeys. Orthologs of the gene can be found in at least 220 organisms including the tropical clawed frog, pandas, and Chinese hamsters. The gene is located at 16p13.3 and has a total of 19 exons. The mRNA has a total of 3224 bp and the protein has 552 aa. The molecular mass of the protein produced by this gene is 59660 Da. It is expressed in at least 27 tissue types in humans, with the greatest presence in the duodenum, fat, small intestine, and heart.
A “Newfoundland deletion” or a0-thalassemia deletion has been found within the second intervening sequence of the FAM234A gene. The gene is associated with multiple red blood cell phenotypes in African Americans – though the exact function or effect of the gene was not entirely clear. Review of GeneCards’ current database on the FAM234A gene provided no additional elucidation on the function of the gene.
