This gene encodes a protein with multiple PDZ domains. PDZ domains mediate protein-protein interactions, and proteins with multiple PDZ domains often organize multimeric complexes at the plasma membrane. This protein localizes to tight junctions and to the apical membrane of epithelial cells. A similar protein in Drosophila is a scaffolding protein which tethers several members of a multimeric signaling complex in photoreceptors.[7]
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Makarova O, Roh MH, Liu CJ, Laurinec S, Margolis B (2003). "Mammalian Crumbs3 is a small transmembrane protein linked to protein associated with Lin-7 (Pals1)". Gene. 302 (1–2): 21–9. doi:10.1016/S0378111902010843. PMID12527193.
Roh MH, Fan S, Liu CJ, Margolis B (2004). "The Crumbs3-Pals1 complex participates in the establishment of polarity in mammalian epithelial cells". J. Cell Sci. 116 (Pt 14): 2895–906. doi:10.1242/jcs.00500. PMID12771187. S2CID4482921.
Michel D, Arsanto JP, Massey-Harroche D, Béclin C, Wijnholds J, Le Bivic A (2005). "PATJ connects and stabilizes apical and lateral components of tight junctions in human intestinal cells". J. Cell Sci. 118 (Pt 17): 4049–57. doi:10.1242/jcs.02528. PMID16129888. S2CID19826254.