spp-3 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; in an heterologous expression system, spp-3 formed pores in liposomes, and showed antimicrobial activity against several gram- negative and positive bacteria such as E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Ph. luminescence, X. nematophila, Y. enterocolitica, B. megaterium and B. thuringiensis; spp-3 is expressed in the intestine and the SDQR head neuron.
Enables identical protein binding activity. Involved in defense response to Gram-negative bacterium and defense response to Gram-positive bacterium. Located in protein-containing complex. Expressed in SDQR.
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.