Predicted to enable gap junction hemi-channel activity. Predicted to be involved in monoatomic ion transmembrane transport. Predicted to be active in gap junction and plasma membrane. Is expressed in K' cell and pharynx.
WB Description
eat-5 encodes an innexin, expressed in pharyngeal muscle cell groups pm4 and pm5, that is required for synchronized pharyngeal muscle contractions, and for normal electrical connections between pharyngeal muscle cells; EAT-5 forms electrically permeable intercellular channels (gap junctions), with a predicted membrane topology analogous to that of connexins, which affects electrical coupling between different parts of the pharynx and thus affects feeding.