[C.elegansII] u8amb : touch insensitive; lethargic. ES2. ME?. OA>50: e75 (recessive, ME3), u7cs, e1084 (probable null), e1514, e1608dm, u284sd, etc. Alleles vary in phenotype from weak recessive to strong dominant Mec; complex complementation. Cloned: encodes predicted 440 aa protein with central similarity to human stomatin (65% identity over 247 aa). mec-2:lacZ expressed in cell bodies and processes of touch cells, some other neurons.??? [Chalfie and Au 1989; Huang et al. 1995; TU]
Enables cholesterol binding activity. Involved in positive regulation of multicellular organismal process and response to mechanical stimulus. Located in neuron projection membrane. Expressed in sensory neurons. Used to study nephrotic syndrome. Is an ortholog of human STOM (stomatin).