nas-4 encodes a predicted extracellular matrix metalloprotease of the M12A (astacin) family that contains an N-terminal signal sequence and a catalytic domain, but no recognizable regulatory domains in the C-terminus; as loss of nas-4 activity via RNAi results in no obvious abnormalities, the precise role of NAS-4 in C. elegans development and/or behavior is not yet known; however, an NAS-4 translational reporter is expressed in the pharynx and intestine in larvae and adults, suggesting a role for NAS-4 in digestion; NAS-4 is specifically detected within cells of the pharyngeal procorpus, metacorpus, isthmus, and terminal bulb, with extracellular expression detected in the lumen of the terminal bulb and in the gut.
Predicted to enable metalloendopeptidase activity. Predicted to be involved in proteolysis. Predicted to be located in extracellular region. Expressed in intestine; marginal cell; and pharynx.
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.