[7] Desmosomes are cell-cell junctions between epithelial, myocardial, and certain other cell types.

Desmoglein 3 is a calcium-binding transmembrane glycoprotein component of desmosomes in vertebrate epithelial cells.

These desmoglein gene family members are located in a cluster on chromosome 18.

This protein, along with Desmoglein-1, has been identified as the autoantigen of the autoimmune skin blistering disease pemphigus vulgaris.

[9] Pathogenicity of Desmoglein-3 antibodies comes from the existence of a tryptophan residue that could be interacting with the binding pocket that is necessary for trans-interaction of Desmoglein molecules.