nas-37 encodes a Astacin-class metalloprotease required for full ecdysisthat is expressed in hypodermal cells 4 hours before each ecdysis; NAS-37protein has an N-terminal signal sequence followed by an Astacin proteasedomain and three protein-binding domains (EGF-like, CUB, andthrombospondin); NAS-37 accumulates in anterior cuticle, being shed withit after ecdysis; nas-37 mutants fail to complete anterior ecdysis at eachmolt; nas-37(ox196) mutations alter an evolutionarily invariant histidineresidue yet are phenotypically indistinguishable from null mutations,consistent with the hypothesis that NAS-37 encodes a functional protease;NAS-37 orthologs are found in other nematodes such as Brugia malayi.
Enables metalloendopeptidase activity. Involved in collagen and cuticulin-based cuticle development and ecdysis, collagen and cuticulin-based cuticle. Located in extracellular region. Expressed in cuticle; epithelial cell; intestine; and rectal gland cell.
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.