Automated description from the Alliance of Genome Resources (Release 7.1.0)
Involved in auditory receptor cell stereocilium organization. Acts upstream of or within detection of mechanical stimulus involved in sensory perception of sound. Located in kinocilium and stereocilium tip. Is expressed in cochlea; inner ear; semicircular duct ampulla; tectorial membrane; and utricle epithelium. Used to study autosomal recessive nonsyndromic deafness 16. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in autosomal recessive nonsyndromic deafness 16 and sensorineural hearing loss. Orthologous to several human genes including STRC (stereocilin).