This gene encodes a member of the transient receptor potential melastatin subfamily of transient receptor potential ion channels. The encoded protein is a calcium permeable cation channel that is expressed in melanocytes and may play a role in melanin synthesis. Specific mutations in this gene are the cause autosomal recessive complete congenital stationary night blindness-1C. The expression of this protein is inversely correlated with melanoma aggressiveness and as such it is used as a prognostic marker for melanoma metastasis. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2011].