spp-2 encodes an antimicrobial peptide that belongs to the SPP-protein family, called caenopores, with structural similarity to saposin-like proteins (SAPLIPs), the amoebapores and the mammalian NK-lysin and granulysin; caenopores are part of the worm's innate immune system and interact with and eliminate bacteria via membrane pore-forming activity; C. elegans has at least 33 putative SPP proteins; phylogenetic analysis indicates that spp-2 is most similar to spp-4, spp-5 and spp-6.
Map position created from combination of previous interpolated map position (based on known location of sequence) and allele information. Therefore this is not a genetic map position based on recombination frequencies or genetic experiments. This was done on advice of the CGC.