Stomatin (STOM)

Stomatin is a 32kD integral membrane protein found in the red cell membrane. this protein was missing from the membrane in overhydrated hereditary stomatocytosis and this is confirmed by others . It is found in virtually all human tissues  and in very many animals, including simple flatworms and many bacteria: it seems to be basic in biology. The human genomic and murine  genes have been isolated. The human gene maps to chromosome 9q32-34 . Prohaska and others have found that the stomatin protein molecules seems to assemble together like bricks; and that it is linked up to the scaffolding of the cell ; and that it is assocuiated with the cholesterol+sphingomyelin-rich material of the cell membrane, possibly forming isolated domains commonly known as """rafts""" .