cDNA clones, whose fusion proteins were recognised by an anti-(T3 gamma chain) serum, were isolated from a lambda gt11 expression library prepared from the human T leukaemia cell line J6. The clones encoded a unique sequence related to that of the T3 delta chain, and hybridised to two mRNA transcripts of 0.8 and 3.5 kb in size, whose expression was restricted to T lymphocytes. The 182 amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA revealed a typical signal peptide, a predominantly hydrophilic 89 amino residue domain with two N-glycosylation sites, a hydrophobic domain with a centrally located glutamic acid residue and a 44-residue domain with at least one potential serine phosphorylation site for protein kinase C. Given this arrangement the T3 gamma polypeptide most probably has a transmembrane orientation with the N-terminal domain exposed on the cell surface. The amino acid and nucleotide sequences showed marked homology with those of the T3 delta chain, suggesting that the respective genes arose by duplication about 200 million years ago. The intracellular and membrane-proximal half of the extracellular domains were especially well conserved.