Vanilloid Receptor Like Protein 3 belongs to a family of non-selective cation channels that function in a variety of processes, including temperature sensation and vasoregulation. The thermo sensitive members of the family are expressed in subsets of sensory neurons that terminate in the skin, and are activated at distinct physiological temperatures. This channel is activiated at temperatures between 22-40° C. The gene lies in close proximity to another family member Vanilloid Receptor Like Protein 1 gene on chromosome 17, and the two encoded proteins are thought to associate with each other to form heterometric channels (3,4).