Stomatin Like Protein 3 (STOML3)

The deduced 287-amino acid Stoml3 protein has a calculated molecular mass of 32 kD. It contains 2 N-terminal hydrophobic domains followed by a central stomatin (EPB72) signature sequence shared with mouse stomatin and human podocin. Stoml3 shows a combination of beta sheet-rich and alpha helix-rich structures found in other stomatin family members. The N terminus of Stoml3 also has 3 consensus sequences for cys palmitoylation. In situ hybridization detected mouse Stoml3 transcript only in olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) of the main olfactory epithelium. It was not detected in vomeronasal neurons. Stoml3 was abundant in most apical dendrites of OSNs, including olfactory cilia. Immunoprecipitation revealed that Stoml3 associated with adenylyl cyclase-3 and caveolin-1 in the low-density membrane fraction of olfactory cilia.