che-12 encodes a conserved protein orthologous to the mammalian protein Crescerin1 encoded by the gene FAM179B (KIAA0423); CHE-12 activity is required continuously in sensory neurons for formation of distal ciliary segments and thus, for normal sensory cilium morphology and function and chemotaxis to a subset of attractants, including sodium chloride; CHE-12 contains four TOG domains whose tubulin-binding activity is essential for proper cilia structure and function; a che-12::gfp promoter fusion is expressed in the two phasmid neurons and the subset of amphid neurons that contain relatively simple cilia; a CHE-12::GFP protein localizes to cilia in a manner suggesting that it requires intraflagellar transport for proper localization, but is unlikely to be a core IFT particle component; che-12 expression in ciliated neurons is dependent upon the presence of the DAF-19 RFX transcription factor.
Predicted to enable microtubule binding activity. Involved in several processes, including chemotaxis; cilium assembly; and hyperosmotic response. Located in cilium; dendrite; and neuronal cell body. Expressed in amphid neurons and phasmid neurons. Used to study ciliopathy. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Joubert syndrome. Is an ortholog of human TOGARAM1 (TOG array regulator of axonemal microtubules 1) and TOGARAM2 (TOG array regulator of axonemal microtubules 2).