Stomatin (STOM/EPB72/Band 7.2b) is a 31-kDa integral membrane-associated scaffolding protein of the SPFH (stomatin-prohibitin-flotillin-HflK/C) superfamily. The protein contains a characteristic Band-7/SPFH domain and forms homo-oligomeric complexes (9-12 monomers) that organize cholesterol-rich, detergent-resistant membrane microdomains (lipid rafts). Stomatin is palmitoylated at Cys-30 and Cys-87, anchoring it to the cytoplasmic leaflet of the plasma membrane via an intramembrane hydrophobic segment (residues 26-54). The protein is abundantly expressed in erythrocyte membranes and platelets, where it associates with transporters and ion channels including GLUT1 (SLC2A1), anion exchanger 1 (AE1/SLC4A1), and aquaporin-1. Stomatin positively regulates AE1-mediated Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity through direct protein-protein interaction, and modulates GLUT1 substrate preference toward L-dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) during erythroid maturation. Loss of stomatin in hereditary stomatocytosis (stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis) is associated with RBC cation leak and hemolytic anemia. Stomatin also modulates acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) activity, functioning as an ion channel inhibitor in the broader context of mechanosensation and chemosensation.
| GO Term | Evidence | Action | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GO:0008200
ion channel inhibitor activity
|
IBA
GO_REF:0000033 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin regulates ASIC2 and ASIC3 channel activity according to UniProt functional annotation. The IBA annotation is consistent with the SPFH family paradigm where stomatin-domain proteins modulate acid-sensing ion channels in sensory signaling contexts [PMID:31949695, Carattino & Montalbetti 2020]. This represents a core function of the stomatin family.
Reason: The IBA annotation correctly captures stomatin's role as an ion channel modulator. UniProt states "Regulates ion channel activity and transmembrane ion transport. Regulates ASIC2 and ASIC3 channel activity" with evidence from similarity to mouse stomatin (UniProtKB:P54116). This function is phylogenetically conserved across the SPFH family.
Supporting Evidence:
UniProt:P27105
Regulates ion channel activity and transmembrane ion transport. Regulates ASIC2 and ASIC3 channel activity.
file:human/STOM/STOM-deep-research-falcon.md
model: Edison Scientific Literature
|
|
GO:0005886
plasma membrane
|
IBA
GO_REF:0000033 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Plasma membrane localization is a core characteristic of stomatin, extensively documented in erythrocytes, platelets, and epithelial cells [PMID:1547348, PMID:12130500, PMID:9243190].
Reason: Stomatin localizes to the plasma membrane as a lipid-anchored peripheral membrane protein on the cytoplasmic side. This is a fundamental aspect of its function as a membrane microdomain scaffold.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:1547348
Human red blood cells (RBCs) that are deficient in an integral membrane-associated protein ("stomatin") of apparent molecular mass 31 Kd show a catastrophic increase in passive membrane permeability to the univalent cations Na+ and K+ and are stomatocytic in shape.
PMID:12130500
Stomatin, a major lipid-raft component of erythrocytes and epithelial cells, is also an abundant platelet protein.
|
|
GO:0005856
cytoskeleton
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000044 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin associates with the cortical actin cytoskeleton according to multiple studies [PMID:1547348, PMID:9243190, PMID:9642292]. This is supported by experimental evidence.
Reason: Stomatin colocalizes with cortical actin microfilaments at small plasma membrane protrusions and the protein binds to the cytoskeleton according to detergent solubilization studies. UniProt notes "Colocalizes with cortical actin microfilaments at small plasma membrane protrusions" based on PMID:9243190.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:1547348
Selective solubilization studies using detergents show that while the protein is strongly associated with the phospholipid bilayer, it also binds to the cytoskeleton.
PMID:9642292
There is also evidence that stomatin is linked to the cortical actin cytoskeleton, suggesting a role in cortical morphogenesis of the cell.
|
|
GO:0005886
plasma membrane
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000120 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Duplicate plasma membrane annotation via automated IEA. The annotation is correct but redundant with other plasma membrane annotations.
Reason: Plasma membrane localization is well-established for stomatin. Duplicate annotations with different evidence codes are acceptable.
|
|
GO:0016020
membrane
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000002 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Generic membrane annotation inferred from InterPro domains. This is too broad given the well-characterized plasma membrane localization.
Reason: While correct (stomatin is a membrane protein), this generic term is subsumed by the more specific plasma membrane annotations. It provides minimal additional information.
|
|
GO:0031410
cytoplasmic vesicle
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000120 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin localizes to cytoplasmic vesicles including alpha granules in platelets and is released in microvesicles upon platelet activation [PMID:12130500].
Reason: UniProt notes "Translocates from the alpha-granular lipid rafts to the cell membrane on thrombin activation and selectively enriched in released microvesicles."
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:12130500
Activation of platelets by calcium ionophore A23187 or thrombin led to translocation of stomatin to the plasma membrane, cleavage by calpain, and specific sorting into released microvesicles.
|
|
GO:0042470
melanosome
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000044 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Stomatin was identified by mass spectrometry in melanosome fractions (stages I-IV) according to UniProt (PMID:12643545, PMID:17081065).
Reason: Melanosome localization is documented from proteomic studies but represents a cell-type specific observation rather than a core function. UniProt states "Identified by mass spectrometry in melanosome fractions from stage I to stage IV."
|
|
GO:0045121
membrane raft
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000044 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Lipid raft/membrane raft localization is a fundamental characteristic of stomatin as an SPFH family member. This is strongly supported by experimental evidence [PMID:12130500, PMID:23219802].
Reason: Stomatin is a major lipid raft component and organizes detergent-resistant membrane microdomains. This is central to its function as a membrane scaffold.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:12130500
Lipid rafts are detergent-resistant, cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich membrane domains that are involved in important cellular processes such as signal transduction and intracellular trafficking.
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:19696025 Stomatin-like protein-1 interacts with stomatin and is targe... |
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED |
Summary: This annotation refers to stomatin interaction with STOML1 (stomatin-like protein 1). However, protein binding is an uninformative term that should be replaced with more specific molecular function terms.
Reason: Generic protein binding annotations provide no functional insight. The specific interaction with STOML1 is better captured through interaction databases. UniProt notes "Interacts with STOML1; may redistribute STOM from the plasma membrane to late endosomes."
Proposed replacements:
identical protein binding
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19696025
2009 Aug 20. Stomatin-like protein-1 interacts with stomatin and is targeted to late endosomes.
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:23219802 Stomatin interacts with GLUT1/SLC2A1, band 3/SLC4A1, and aqu... |
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED |
Summary: This publication demonstrates stomatin interaction with GLUT1/SLC2A1, band 3/SLC4A1, and aquaporin-1 in human erythrocyte membrane domains. These are functionally meaningful interactions.
Reason: The generic protein binding term does not capture the specific scaffold/adaptor function of stomatin. The interactions with GLUT1, AE1, and AQP1 are better described through other annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28387307
The identification, as stomatin partners, of the glucose transporter (GLUT1), as well as of anion exchanger 1 (AE1) and water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1) suggests that stomatin within cholesterol-rich membrane domains plays a role as a membrane-bound scaffolding protein modulating transport proteins.
PMID:23219802
Stomatin interacts with GLUT1/SLC2A1, band 3/SLC4A1, and aquaporin-1 in human erythrocyte membrane domains.
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:25262680 Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA polymeras... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: This publication identifies stomatin interaction with HCV NS5B RNA polymerase. This represents a host-pathogen interaction rather than a core molecular function.
Reason: The interaction with viral RNA polymerase is a pathogen exploitation of stomatin's membrane scaffolding function, not a core physiological role.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25262680
In this study, we took a proteomic approach to identify stomatin, a member of the integral proteins of lipid rafts, as a cellular protein interacting with HCV NS5B.
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:25416956 A proteome-scale map of the human interactome network. |
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED |
Summary: High-throughput interactome mapping study. Generic protein binding from HTP data.
Reason: Large-scale proteomics studies generate many protein binding annotations that lack functional context. The generic term does not inform on stomatin's actual molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25416956
A proteome-scale map of the human interactome network.
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:32296183 A reference map of the human binary protein interactome. |
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED |
Summary: Reference map of human binary protein interactome. Generic protein binding from systematic interactome mapping.
Reason: High-throughput protein interaction data leading to generic protein binding annotation. The identical protein binding annotation from the same PMID is more specific and informative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:32296183
Apr 8. A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:33961781 Dual proteome-scale networks reveal cell-specific remodeling... |
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED |
Summary: Dual proteome-scale networks study. Generic protein binding from HTP interactome data.
Reason: Large-scale interactome study generating uninformative generic protein binding annotations.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:33961781
2021 May 6. Dual proteome-scale networks reveal cell-specific remodeling of the human interactome.
|
|
GO:0042802
identical protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:32296183 A reference map of the human binary protein interactome. |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin forms homo-oligomeric complexes comprising 9-12 monomers as demonstrated by density gradient centrifugation and co-immunoprecipitation [PMID:9642292]. This self-interaction is essential for its scaffolding function.
Reason: Homo-oligomerization is a fundamental property of stomatin required for membrane microdomain organization. The C-terminus is required for homo-oligomeric interaction.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9642292
In this study, we demonstrate that the fundamental structure of stomatin is oligomeric.
PMID:32296183
Apr 8. A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
|
|
GO:0005737
cytoplasm
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Stomatin has cytoplasmic domains (both N- and C-termini are cytoplasmic) but primarily functions at the plasma membrane. The cytoplasmic localization is not well characterized beyond the membrane-associated pool.
Reason: While stomatin has cytoplasmic exposure, the primary functional localization is at membrane microdomains. The IEA annotation from Ensembl Compara ortholog transfer is acceptable but represents a peripheral aspect of localization.
|
|
GO:0005739
mitochondrion
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Mitochondrial localization is reported in PMID:25262680 (IDA evidence from AgBase) but represents a minor pool. The primary localization is plasma membrane/lipid rafts.
Reason: Mitochondrial localization has experimental support from mass spectrometry (N-terminome analysis, PMID:25944712) but does not represent the core functional localization of stomatin.
|
|
GO:0008200
ion channel inhibitor activity
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Duplicate of the IBA annotation for ion channel inhibitor activity. Both are valid and supported by evidence for ASIC modulation.
Reason: Ion channel inhibitor activity is a core molecular function of stomatin. Multiple evidence codes support this annotation.
|
|
GO:0034765
regulation of monoatomic ion transmembrane transport
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin regulates ion transmembrane transport through modulation of ASIC channels and effects on the anion exchanger AE1. This process annotation is consistent with the molecular function annotations.
Reason: Regulation of ion transport is a core biological process for stomatin, supported by evidence showing stomatin modulates AE1 Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity and ASIC channel activity.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28387307
Here we show that stomatin modulates the transport activity of AE1 through a direct protein-protein interaction.
|
|
GO:0042802
identical protein binding
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Duplicate annotation for identical protein binding (homo-oligomerization). Well-supported by experimental evidence.
Reason: Homo-oligomerization is essential for stomatin function and this annotation is well-supported regardless of evidence code.
|
|
GO:0042803
protein homodimerization activity
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin forms banana-shaped homodimers that further assemble into higher-order oligomers (9-12 mers) [PMID:9642292]. Crystal structures of mouse stomatin SPFH domain reveal typical banana-shaped dimers [PMID:28387307].
Reason: Homodimerization is the fundamental structural unit of stomatin oligomers. This is well-documented and represents a core molecular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28387307
Crystal structures of a SFPH-domain of mouse stomatin revealed typical banana-shaped dimers which can further assemble via two conserved surfaces into a cylindrical oligomer
|
|
GO:0044829
host-mediated activation of viral genome replication
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Stomatin interaction with HCV NS5B stabilizes viral replicase complexes on detergent-resistant membranes [PMID:25262680]. This is a pathogen exploitation of stomatin's scaffolding function.
Reason: While experimentally supported, viral genome replication support represents pathogen exploitation rather than a core physiological function of stomatin.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25262680
Our results identify stomatin as a cellular protein that plays a role in the formation of an enzymatically active HCV RC on a detergent-resistant membrane structure.
|
|
GO:0048471
perinuclear region of cytoplasm
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: UniProt notes stomatin localizes to a "juxtanuclear structure probably derived from the Golgi apparatus" [PMID:9243190]. This perinuclear localization is consistent with trafficking through the secretory pathway.
Reason: Perinuclear localization is observed but represents trafficking/biosynthetic intermediates rather than the primary functional localization at plasma membrane.
|
|
GO:0048524
positive regulation of viral process
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Related to HCV replication support. Stomatin silencing inhibits HCV replication by releasing NS5B from detergent-resistant membranes [PMID:25262680].
Reason: Viral process regulation is a consequence of stomatin's membrane scaffolding being exploited by HCV, not a core physiological function.
|
|
GO:0090314
positive regulation of protein targeting to membrane
|
IEA
GO_REF:0000107 |
UNDECIDED |
Summary: This annotation may relate to stomatin's role in organizing membrane protein complexes and its effects on transporter localization and activity.
Reason: The evidence for stomatin specifically regulating protein targeting to membrane is unclear. Stomatin affects transporter activity but the mechanism may not involve targeting per se. More evidence needed.
|
|
GO:0005886
plasma membrane
|
IDA
GO_REF:0000052 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Plasma membrane localization from immunofluorescence data curation. Well-supported.
Reason: Plasma membrane is the primary functional localization of stomatin.
|
|
GO:0005515
protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:28387307 Stomatin modulates the activity of the Anion Exchanger 1 (AE... |
MARK AS OVER ANNOTATED |
Summary: This publication demonstrates stomatin interaction with AE1 (SLC4A1) using proximity ligation assay and shows stomatin positively regulates AE1 activity.
Reason: The specific interaction is with SLC4A1/AE1 and the functional outcome is modulation of anion exchanger activity. The generic protein binding term is uninformative for describing this specific functional relationship.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:28387307
In situ Proximity Ligation Assays confirmed an interaction of AE1 with stomatin, in both HEK recombinant cells and RBCs.
|
|
GO:0005886
plasma membrane
|
IDA
PMID:9642292 Oligomeric nature of the integral membrane protein stomatin. |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin plasma membrane localization demonstrated through immunofluorescence and biochemical fractionation studies.
Reason: Primary localization of stomatin at plasma membrane is well-established.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9642292
We have previously shown in the human cell line UAC that stomatin concentrates preferentially in plasma membrane folds and protrusions.
|
|
GO:0042802
identical protein binding
|
IPI
PMID:9642292 Oligomeric nature of the integral membrane protein stomatin. |
ACCEPT |
Summary: This study directly demonstrates stomatin homo-oligomerization using co-immunoprecipitation and density gradient centrifugation.
Reason: Key experimental evidence for stomatin homo-oligomerization. The fundamental structure of stomatin is oligomeric (9-12 monomers).
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:9642292
We also show the existence of these oligomers by co-immunoprecipitation of the endogenous stomatin and a recombinantly expressed myc-tagged stomatin, using an anti-myc antibody.
|
|
GO:0035577
azurophil granule membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6798739 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Stomatin localizes to neutrophil azurophil granule membranes according to Reactome annotation for neutrophil degranulation pathway.
Reason: Azurophil granule membrane localization in neutrophils is cell-type specific and represents a peripheral aspect of stomatin localization, not its core erythrocyte/platelet function.
|
|
GO:0035579
specific granule membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6799350 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Stomatin localizes to neutrophil specific granule membranes according to Reactome.
Reason: Neutrophil granule localization is cell-type specific, not core function.
|
|
GO:0070821
tertiary granule membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6798747 |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Stomatin localizes to neutrophil tertiary granule membranes according to Reactome.
Reason: Neutrophil granule localization is cell-type specific, not core function.
|
|
GO:0005886
plasma membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6798739 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Plasma membrane localization from Reactome. Redundant with other PM annotations.
Reason: Plasma membrane is the primary functional localization of stomatin.
|
|
GO:0005886
plasma membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6798747 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Plasma membrane localization from Reactome. Redundant with other PM annotations.
Reason: Plasma membrane is well-established localization.
|
|
GO:0005886
plasma membrane
|
TAS
Reactome:R-HSA-6799350 |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Plasma membrane localization from Reactome. Redundant with other PM annotations.
Reason: Plasma membrane is well-established localization.
|
|
GO:0005739
mitochondrion
|
IDA
PMID:25262680 Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA polymeras... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Mitochondrial localization detected in the context of HCV infection study. This may represent a minor pool or context-specific localization.
Reason: Mitochondrial localization is not the primary functional location of stomatin. The plasma membrane/lipid raft localization is the core functional site.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25262680
Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase stabilizes the viral RNA replicase complexes on detergent-resistant membranes.
|
|
GO:0005783
endoplasmic reticulum
|
IDA
PMID:25262680 Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA polymeras... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: ER localization detected in HCV infection study, likely related to the association with viral replication complexes on modified ER membranes.
Reason: ER localization may represent biosynthetic trafficking or context-specific localization during viral infection, not core functional localization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25262680
Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase stabilizes the viral RNA replicase complexes on detergent-resistant membranes.
|
|
GO:0070063
RNA polymerase binding
|
IPI
PMID:25262680 Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA polymeras... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Stomatin binds HCV NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This is a host-pathogen interaction, not a normal physiological function.
Reason: RNA polymerase binding specifically refers to interaction with viral RdRp (HCV NS5B). This represents pathogen exploitation of stomatin's scaffolding function, not a core cellular function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:25262680
In this study, we took a proteomic approach to identify stomatin, a member of the integral proteins of lipid rafts, as a cellular protein interacting with HCV NS5B.
|
|
GO:0070062
extracellular exosome
|
HDA
PMID:23533145 In-depth proteomic analyses of exosomes isolated from expres... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin is detected in extracellular exosomes by proteomics. This is consistent with its release in platelet microvesicles upon activation.
Reason: Stomatin is released in microvesicles/exosomes upon cell activation, documented in platelets [PMID:12130500] and various proteomics studies.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:12130500
Activation of platelets by calcium ionophore A23187 or thrombin led to translocation of stomatin to the plasma membrane, cleavage by calpain, and specific sorting into released microvesicles.
PMID:23533145
2013 Apr 23. In-depth proteomic analyses of exosomes isolated from expressed prostatic secretions in urine.
|
|
GO:0031982
vesicle
|
HDA
PMID:19190083 Characterization of exosome-like vesicles released from huma... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin detected in vesicle fractions from tracheobronchial epithelium proteomics.
Reason: Vesicle localization is consistent with stomatin's presence in cytoplasmic vesicles, granules, and released microvesicles.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19190083
Characterization of exosome-like vesicles released from human tracheobronchial ciliated epithelium: a possible role in innate defense.
|
|
GO:0016020
membrane
|
HDA
PMID:19946888 Defining the membrane proteome of NK cells. |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Generic membrane annotation from NK cell membrane proteome study.
Reason: Generic membrane term is subsumed by more specific localizations. Acceptable but not informative.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19946888
Defining the membrane proteome of NK cells.
|
|
GO:0005615
extracellular space
|
HDA
PMID:16502470 Human colostrum: identification of minor proteins in the aqu... |
KEEP AS NON CORE |
Summary: Stomatin detected in human colostrum proteomics. May represent secreted/shed protein in body fluids.
Reason: Extracellular space detection in proteomics studies reflects release via microvesicles/exosomes rather than a primary secreted function.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:16502470
Human colostrum: identification of minor proteins in the aqueous phase by proteomics.
|
|
GO:0072562
blood microparticle
|
HDA
PMID:22516433 Proteomic analysis of microvesicles from plasma of healthy d... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin detected in blood microparticles, consistent with platelet-derived microvesicle release.
Reason: Blood microparticle localization is consistent with documented stomatin release in platelet microvesicles upon activation.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:12130500
Activation of platelets by calcium ionophore A23187 or thrombin led to translocation of stomatin to the plasma membrane, cleavage by calpain, and specific sorting into released microvesicles.
PMID:22516433
Epub 2012 Apr 10. Proteomic analysis of microvesicles from plasma of healthy donors reveals high individual variability.
|
|
GO:0070062
extracellular exosome
|
HDA
PMID:19056867 Large-scale proteomics and phosphoproteomics of urinary exos... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin detected in urinary exosomes by proteomics.
Reason: Exosome localization is consistent with stomatin's membrane association and release in extracellular vesicles.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:19056867
2008 Dec 3. Large-scale proteomics and phosphoproteomics of urinary exosomes.
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|
GO:0070062
extracellular exosome
|
HDA
PMID:21362503 Protein profile of exosomes from trabecular meshwork cells. |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Stomatin detected in trabecular meshwork cell exosomes by proteomics.
Reason: Multiple proteomics studies confirm stomatin presence in exosomes from various cell types.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:21362503
Epub 2011 Mar 8. Protein profile of exosomes from trabecular meshwork cells.
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|
GO:0005856
cytoskeleton
|
IDA
PMID:1547348 Isolation of cDNA coding for an ubiquitous membrane protein ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: This seminal paper establishing stomatin biochemistry shows stomatin binds to the cytoskeleton based on detergent solubilization studies.
Reason: Cytoskeletal association is a core feature of stomatin, linking it to cortical actin and providing structural basis for membrane organization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:1547348
Selective solubilization studies using detergents show that while the protein is strongly associated with the phospholipid bilayer, it also binds to the cytoskeleton.
|
|
GO:0005886
plasma membrane
|
IDA
PMID:1547348 Isolation of cDNA coding for an ubiquitous membrane protein ... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: Plasma membrane localization established in this foundational paper on stomatin.
Reason: Primary reference establishing stomatin as a plasma membrane-associated protein in erythrocytes.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:1547348
Human red blood cells (RBCs) that are deficient in an integral membrane-associated protein ("stomatin") of apparent molecular mass 31 Kd show a catastrophic increase in passive membrane permeability to the univalent cations Na+ and K+ and are stomatocytic in shape.
|
|
GO:0045121
membrane raft
|
IDA
PMID:12130500 Stomatin is a major lipid-raft component of platelet alpha g... |
ACCEPT |
Summary: This key paper establishes stomatin as a major lipid raft component, demonstrating its association with detergent-resistant membranes in platelets.
Reason: Lipid raft localization is central to stomatin function as a membrane microdomain scaffold. This is a core localization.
Supporting Evidence:
PMID:12130500
Stomatin and the flotillins were associated with Triton X-100-insoluble lipid rafts.
|
Q: What is the precise mechanism by which stomatin modulates ASIC channel gating? Is there direct structural interaction or is the effect mediated through membrane microdomain organization?
Q: Does stomatin interact with and modulate Piezo mechanosensitive channels, given the role of stomatin-like proteins in mechanosensation?
Q: What determines whether stomatin activates (AE1) versus inhibits (ASICs) different transport proteins?
Experiment: Cryo-EM structural analysis of full-length human stomatin oligomers in nanodiscs or reconstituted lipid bilayers to determine the precise architecture of membrane-associated complexes.
Experiment: Electrophysiological studies of ASIC channels in stomatin-knockout cells versus wild-type to quantify the magnitude of stomatin-mediated inhibition and determine mechanism (gating, trafficking, or surface expression).
Experiment: Proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID/TurboID) in erythroid cells to comprehensively map the stomatin interactome and identify additional transporter/channel partners.
Stomatin (STOM), also known as erythrocyte band 7 integral membrane protein or protein 7.2b, is a 31.5 kDa monotopic membrane protein belonging to the evolutionarily ancient band 7/mec-2 family [hiebl-dirschmied-1991-cloning-abstract]. First identified as a major component of the human erythrocyte membrane, stomatin is characterized by the presence of a conserved SPFH (stomatin/prohibitin/flotillin/HflK/C) domain, also referred to as the band 7 or prohibitin homology (PHB) domain. The protein was named after hereditary stomatocytosis, a hemolytic anemia in which stomatin is notably absent from red blood cell membranes, though paradoxically no mutations in the STOM gene itself have been found in this condition [fricke-2005-ohst-trafficking-abstract].
Stomatin functions primarily as a membrane-organizing scaffolding protein that regulates the activity of multiple ion channels and membrane transporters through direct protein-protein interactions. The protein associates with cholesterol-rich lipid rafts, forms higher-order oligomeric structures, and recruits its target proteins to these specialized membrane domains [rungaldier-2017-stomatin-structure-function-abstract]. Beyond its well-established roles in transport regulation, recent research has revealed unexpected functions in cell division, lipid metabolism, and innate immunity. This review synthesizes current understanding of stomatin's molecular function, subcellular localization, structural features, and roles in physiological and pathological contexts, with particular emphasis on its conserved role in regulating mechanosensation through ion channel modulation.
Human stomatin is encoded by the STOM gene and consists of 287 amino acids. The protein contains several functionally important regions: an N-terminal membrane-anchoring domain, a central SPFH/band 7 domain (also called the stomatin domain), and a C-terminal coiled-coil domain essential for oligomerization [hiebl-dirschmied-1991-cloning-abstract]. The SPFH domain spans approximately residues 86-213 in mouse stomatin and adopts a mixed α/β-fold similar to other SPFH family members [brand-2012-stomatin-dimer-abstract].
Unlike typical transmembrane proteins, stomatin adopts a distinctive monotopic membrane topology characterized by a hydrophobic hairpin-loop structure. In this configuration, a short hydrophobic stretch of approximately 29 residues near the N-terminus inserts into the membrane but does not traverse it completely, leaving both the N- and C-termini exposed to the cytoplasm [kadurin-2009-proline-topology-abstract]. This topology is critically dependent on a highly conserved proline residue (Pro-47) located in the middle of the hydrophobic domain. When this proline is mutated to serine, the entire stomatin pool adopts a single-pass transmembrane configuration and loses its ability to localize to detergent-resistant membrane domains (lipid rafts), demonstrating that the hairpin-loop formation is inefficient and requires this conserved proline residue [kadurin-2009-proline-topology-abstract].
Stomatin undergoes palmitoylation at multiple cysteine residues, particularly Cys-30 and Cys-87. Palmitoylation of Cys-87 is essential for attachment of the SPFH domain to the plasma membrane, while Cys-30 resides within the intramembrane domain and provides additional membrane anchoring [rungaldier-2017-stomatin-structure-function-abstract]. These post-translational modifications, combined with the hydrophobic hairpin structure, result in a biochemical profile similar to caveolins and other integral scaffolding proteins.
Crystallographic studies of the mouse stomatin SPFH domain revealed that the basic building block is a "banana-shaped dimer" formed through an intermolecular β-sheet at the C-terminus of the stomatin domain, burying approximately 600 Ų of surface area per molecule [brand-2012-stomatin-dimer-abstract]. This dimerization is functionally critical; disrupting the dimer interface through the V197P mutation abolishes stomatin's ability to modulate acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). Beyond dimers, stomatin assembles into ring-like cylindrical oligomers with an outer diameter of approximately 8 nm, representing higher-order structures built from banana-shaped dimeric building blocks [brand-2012-stomatin-dimer-abstract]. The coiled-coil domain at the C-terminus is essential for this oligomerization, and association with cholesterol-rich membranes appears to be a prerequisite for oligomer formation [rungaldier-2017-stomatin-structure-function-abstract].
A crucial functional element identified in the crystal structure is a hydrophobic pocket at the concave face of the stomatin dimer, with a volume of approximately 350 ų. This pocket can accommodate small hydrophobic peptides and exhibits dynamic open-closed behavior. Mutation of this pocket (T182W) eliminated stomatin's inhibitory function on ASIC3 and ASIC2a channels despite maintaining proper protein folding and localization, establishing the hydrophobic pocket as essential for ion channel regulation [brand-2012-stomatin-dimer-abstract].
Stomatin is primarily localized to cholesterol-rich membrane microdomains known as lipid rafts. In erythrocytes, along with flotillin-1 and flotillin-2, stomatin is among the most abundant integral proteins of lipid raft fractions isolated by detergent resistance assays [mairhofer-2002-platelet-abstract]. Stomatin has been identified as a cholesterol-binding protein, with two domains important for cholesterol-rich membrane association: the CRAC/CARC domain (residues 55-68) and the ORA/CARC domain (residues 263-273). Both domains contribute equally to lipid raft localization [rungaldier-2017-stomatin-structure-function-abstract]. A highly conserved proline residue in the hydrophobic domain has also been proposed to directly bind cholesterol and is necessary for ion channel regulation [kadurin-2009-proline-topology-abstract].
While initially characterized in erythrocytes, stomatin is widely expressed across many tissues and cell types. Expression has been documented in visceral pleura, pericardium, vena cava, and over 200 other cell types and tissues. Beyond the plasma membrane, stomatin localizes to specific subcellular compartments depending on cell type. In platelets, stomatin is found predominantly at the α-granular membrane rather than the plasma membrane. Upon platelet activation by calcium ionophore or thrombin, stomatin translocates to the plasma membrane, undergoes calpain-mediated cleavage, and is sorted into released microvesicles, suggesting a role in α-granule organization and function [mairhofer-2002-platelet-abstract].
Stomatin-carrying endosomes have been observed to be highly dynamic and interact with lipid droplets, suggesting potential roles in intracellular lipid transport. In sensory neurons, stomatin and its homologs localize along neuronal processes, particularly in mechanosensory cells where they form complexes with ion channels [huang-1995-mec2-abstract].
One of the best-characterized functions of stomatin is its modulation of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), proton-gated sodium channels involved in sensory neuron function. Stomatin co-immunoprecipitates and co-localizes with ASIC proteins in heterologous cells, and functionally alters their gating properties [price-2004-stomatin-asic-abstract].
The effects of stomatin differ depending on the ASIC subtype. For ASIC3, stomatin potently reduces acid-evoked currents without affecting steady-state protein levels or surface expression, indicating a direct effect on channel gating or conductance. For ASIC2a and heteromeric ASICs, stomatin accelerates the desensitization rate without affecting current amplitude. Detailed mechanistic studies identified that regulation requires two distinct sites on ASIC3: the distal C-terminus (containing a di-leucine motif at positions 488-489) that is critical for formation of the stomatin-ASIC3 complex, and the first transmembrane domain (TM1) that is required only for the regulatory effect [price-2004-stomatin-asic-abstract, brand-2012-stomatin-dimer-abstract].
Stomatin directly associates with and modulates the glucose transporter GLUT1, one of the most abundant proteins in human erythrocytes. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that stomatin specifically interacts with GLUT1 through its C-terminal 42-amino acid segment, while neither band 3 (the most abundant erythrocyte membrane protein) nor actin showed similar interaction patterns, indicating specificity [zhang-1999-stomatin-glut1-association-abstract].
Functionally, overexpression of stomatin results in a 35-50% reduction in the basal rate of glucose transport, without affecting GLUT1 protein levels or surface expression. This indicates that stomatin decreases the "intrinsic" transport activity of GLUT1 through protein-protein interaction [zhang-2001-stomatin-glut1-abstract].
Notably, stomatin acts as a molecular switch that partly converts GLUT1 from a glucose transporter into a transporter for L-dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), an oxidized form of ascorbic acid. During human erythropoiesis, glucose transport decreases despite a more than 1000-fold increase in GLUT1 transcripts, while GLUT1-mediated DHA transport is dramatically enhanced. Stomatin expression inversely regulates the relative transport of glucose versus DHA by GLUT1. This functional switch appears unique to mammals unable to synthesize vitamin C (humans, apes, guinea pigs), providing a compensatory mechanism for ascorbic acid uptake in species that lack de novo synthesis capability [montel-hagen-2008-dha-uptake-abstract].
Stomatin also modulates the activity of anion exchanger 1 (AE1, also known as band 3 or SLC4A1), the major erythrocyte membrane protein responsible for Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ exchange. Proximity ligation assays confirmed direct interaction between stomatin and AE1 in both recombinant cells and erythrocytes [genetet-2017-ae1-modulation-abstract].
Functional studies revealed that stomatin-deficient red blood cells from patients with overhydrated hereditary stomatocytosis exhibit 47% decreased permeability to bicarbonate and 42% decreased chloride efflux compared to normal erythrocytes. Conversely, cells overexpressing stomatin showed 30% elevated AE1 activity compared to cells with only endogenous stomatin expression. Thus, stomatin positively regulates AE1 transport activity through direct protein-protein interaction [genetet-2017-ae1-modulation-abstract].
Comprehensive proteomic analysis using chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry identified additional stomatin interaction partners in erythrocyte membranes. Major partners include GLUT1, AE1 (band 3), and the water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1). Minor interacting proteins include ferroportin-1, urea transporters, nucleoside transporters, the plasma membrane calcium pump, CD47, and flotillins [rungaldier-2013-stomatin-interactions-abstract].
These findings support a model in which stomatin functions as a membrane-bound scaffolding protein within cholesterol-rich domains, organizing and modulating multiple transport proteins. Immunopurified stomatin complexes analyzed by blue native PAGE revealed major complexes of >500 kDa, approximately 300 kDa, and 130 kDa, all containing stomatin, band 3, and GLUT1 as major components [rungaldier-2013-stomatin-interactions-abstract].
Beyond erythrocyte transporters, stomatin regulates bile salt transport in hepatocytes through interaction with the sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP/SLC10A1). NTCP is expressed at the basolateral membrane of hepatocytes where it mediates uptake of conjugated bile acids and serves as the hepatocyte entry receptor for hepatitis B and D viruses [appelman-2020-ntcp-bile-abstract].
Proteomic screening identified stomatin as an NTCP-interacting protein, and this interaction was validated in human liver samples, demonstrating physiological relevance. Both stomatin and NTCP localize to lipid rafts at the plasma membrane. Functionally, both stomatin overexpression and knockdown increased NTCP-mediated taurocholate uptake, though the mechanisms differ: in stomatin-depleted cells, NTCP abundance at the plasma membrane increased, while overexpression modulated NTCP function without affecting surface expression [appelman-2020-ntcp-bile-abstract]. This complex regulatory relationship suggests stomatin fine-tunes bile salt uptake through multiple mechanisms, potentially influencing hepatic bile acid homeostasis and viral entry.
Recent research has uncovered an unexpected role for stomatin in cell division. Time-lapse microscopy of stomatin-depleted HeLa cells revealed that the predominant defect is late-stage cytokinesis failure, with a smaller percentage of cells displaying chromosome segregation defects during mitosis [dona-2022-cytokinesis-lipid-abstract]. Proteomic studies have identified stomatin in midbodies, the site of final cleavage between dividing cells, suggesting that stomatin's primary role is during late stages of cytokinesis.
Importantly, key cytokinesis proteins including microtubules, actin, the septin SEPT9, the abscission protein CHMP2A (a member of the ESCRT-III complex), and the cytokinetic regulator RACGAP1 do not mislocalize in stomatin-depleted cells. This indicates that stomatin's effects on cell division are not mediated through gross mislocalization of canonical cytokinesis machinery, but rather through other mechanisms, possibly involving membrane dynamics or lipid organization at the cleavage furrow.
Although stomatin is not a lipid biosynthetic enzyme, its depletion causes significant changes to cellular lipidomes. Specifically, stomatin depletion reduces ether lipids and phosphatidylcholines (PCs) while altering the balance of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) species [dona-2022-cytokinesis-lipid-abstract]. The overall abundance of PC species decreased, while PE levels showed a net increase.
Remarkably, addition of exogenous phosphatidylcholines rescues stomatin-induced cytokinesis defects, providing direct evidence that stomatin interfaces with lipid metabolism. During cell division, stomatin's mobility on the plasma membrane changes, supporting the requirement for highly regulated physical interactions between membrane lipids and this cell division protein [dona-2022-cytokinesis-lipid-abstract]. These findings connect stomatin's established role as a lipid raft-associated scaffolding protein with new functions in regulating membrane lipid composition during critical cellular processes.
The significance of stomatin in mechanosensation was first established through studies of its nematode homolog MEC-2 in Caenorhabditis elegans. The mec-2 gene is required for the function of six touch receptor neurons; mutants are touch-insensitive despite morphologically normal touch cells. The central region of MEC-2 shows high similarity to human stomatin, suggesting conserved function [huang-1995-mec2-abstract].
MEC-2-LacZ fusion proteins localize along the processes of touch receptor neurons, with this localization requiring an N-terminal signal disrupted by mutations in mec-12 (α-tubulin). This led to the hypothesis that MEC-2 links the mechanosensory channel to the microtubule cytoskeleton, enabling mechanotransduction through microtubule displacement-triggered channel activation [huang-1995-mec2-abstract].
Electrophysiological studies demonstrated that MEC-2 dramatically enhances the activity of the mechanosensory channel complex formed by MEC-4 and MEC-10 (members of the DEG/ENaC family). When co-expressed in Xenopus oocytes, MEC-2 increased channel activity approximately 40-fold and allowed currents to be detected with wild-type MEC-4/MEC-10 that were undetectable without MEC-2 [goodman-2002-mec2-degenac-abstract].
Interestingly, while stomatin typically inhibits channel currents (as with ASIC3), MEC-2 potentiates MEC-4/MEC-10 activity. This suggests that stomatin-domain proteins can either enhance or suppress ion channel activity depending on the specific channel and cellular context. The conserved presence of stomatin-like proteins and DEG/ENaC family channels across vertebrates and invertebrates implies that this regulatory relationship has ancient evolutionary origins and may have important implications for mammalian mechanosensation and nociception [goodman-2002-mec2-degenac-abstract, price-2004-stomatin-asic-abstract].
Recent work has revealed that MEC-2 undergoes liquid-to-solid phase transitions that are functionally important. In a liquid-like state, MEC-2 condensates facilitate transport along neurites with varying caliber. Upon reaching their cellular target, MEC-2 condensates transition to a solid-like state capable of sustaining mechanical stress over long timescales during body wall touch, providing a focus for force transmission to the ion channel.
The human genome encodes five stomatin-related genes: STOM (stomatin), STOML1, STOML2, STOML3, and NPHS2 (podocin). All share a conserved stomatin/SPFH domain and the capacity for membrane association, though they differ in expression patterns and specific functions.
STOML1 is highly expressed in brain and at lower levels in heart, skeletal muscle, and dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons where, like stomatin, it modulates ASIC channel activity. STOML2 localizes to mitochondria where it binds cardiolipin, stabilizing the inner mitochondrial membrane and creating scaffolds for supramolecular respiratory complexes. STOML2 lacks the typical N-terminal hydrophobic membrane anchor of other family members.
STOML3 has emerged as particularly important for mechanosensation in sensory neurons. In mouse skin mechanoreceptors, molecular-scale displacements of approximately 13 nm are sufficient to gate mechanosensitive currents. Remarkably, in the absence of STOML3, displacement thresholds increase by one order of magnitude. STOML3 brings the activation threshold for Piezo1 and Piezo2 channels down to approximately 10 nm, enabling detection of molecular-scale stimuli relevant for fine touch [poole-2014-piezo-tuning-abstract].
STOML3 achieves this sensitization by controlling membrane mechanics through cholesterol binding. STOML3 localizes to cholesterol-rich lipid rafts, and in sensory neurons, cholesterol depletion and STOML3 deficiency similarly attenuate mechanosensitivity while modulating membrane mechanics [qi-2015-stoml3-membrane-stiffening-abstract]. This mechanism has therapeutic implications: small-molecule inhibitors of STOML3 oligomerization have been developed that effectively silence touch receptors and reverse touch-evoked pain associated with nerve injury or diabetic neuropathy, suggesting the STOML3-cholesterol interaction as a potential target for chronic pain management.
Podocin (NPHS2) is specifically localized to the slit diaphragm of podocytes, specialized epithelial cells covering kidney glomerular capillaries. Sharing approximately 44% homology with stomatin through its conserved PHB domain, podocin interacts with nephrin, NEPH1, and the TRPC6 calcium channel. Podocin acts as a molecular switch determining the preferred mode of TRPC6 activation: it reduces sensitivity to mechanical stimuli while facilitating activation by diacylglycerol analogs.
Mutations in NPHS2 cause autosomal recessive steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS), accounting for approximately 18% of SRNS cases. More than 100 different NPHS2 mutations have been identified. Loss of podocin function would result in profound hyperactivation of TRPC6 channels in foot processes, potentially leading to calcium overload as a shared pathogenic mechanism in glomerular diseases caused by mutations in either NPHS2 or TRPC6 genes.
Recent studies have revealed an important role for stomatin in innate immune function, particularly in macrophage responses to fungal pathogens. Using CRISPR/Cas9-generated stomatin-deficient macrophage cell lines, researchers demonstrated that stomatin is required for optimal phagocytosis of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia, a major human fungal pathogen [goldmann-2023-dectin1-macrophage-abstract].
Mechanistically, stomatin is involved in the recruitment of the β-glucan receptor dectin-1 to both the plasma membrane and the phagosomal membrane. In stomatin knockout macrophages, only 30% of cells were dectin-1 positive after 24 hours of culture, compared to 70% of wild-type cells. Furthermore, stomatin promotes phagosome maturation by fostering fusion of phagosomes with lysosomes. In stomatin-deficient cells infected with pigmentless conidia, phagosome-lysosome fusion was reduced, vATPase recruitment to phagosomes was impaired, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production was diminished [goldmann-2023-dectin1-macrophage-abstract]. These findings establish stomatin as a lipid raft component that facilitates pathogen recognition receptor localization and phagosomal maturation during antifungal immunity.
Stomatin also plays a role in neutrophil biology, with particular relevance to inflammatory conditions. Stomatin expression is upregulated in neutrophils following severe burn injury, where it promotes neutrophil degranulation and contributes to vascular leakage and lung damage during the early inflammatory response. Mechanistically, stomatin enhances the binding of primary granules to the cytoskeletal protein F-actin, facilitating granule mobilization and content release.
Importantly, genetic knockout of stomatin in mice partially inhibited excessive neutrophil degranulation following burn injury, potentially by reducing primary granule production and weakening granule-cytoskeleton interactions. Stomatin-deficient mice showed significantly reduced lung injury and vascular leakage compared to wild-type animals. These findings suggest that stomatin may represent a therapeutic target for controlling excessive inflammation in conditions characterized by neutrophil hyperactivation.
Stomatin is notably absent from erythrocyte membranes in overhydrated hereditary stomatocytosis (OHSt), a variably compensated macrocytic hemolytic anemia characterized by red cells with slit-like lucencies (stomata), markedly increased cation permeability, and erythrocyte overhydration. Paradoxically, no mutations in the STOM gene have been identified in OHSt patients; stomatin protein production appears normal, suggesting that loss of stomatin is a secondary change [fricke-2005-ohst-trafficking-abstract].
Studies of erythroid cell cultures from OHSt patients revealed that stomatin immunoreactivity is present in progenitor cells but remains restricted to multivesicular complexes and the nuclear area during development, never reaching the plasma membrane. This suggests stomatin is "an innocent passenger in a more fundamental trafficking abnormality" [fricke-2005-ohst-trafficking-abstract].
OHSt is actually caused by heterozygous mutations in the RHAG gene (encoding Rh-associated glycoprotein), with the F65S mutation representing a hotspot. The RHAG mutations occur in predicted transmembrane regions and are thought to widen the pore, allowing cation passage. The mechanism by which RHAG mutations lead to stomatin mistrafficking remains incompletely understood.
Functionally, stomatin-deficient erythrocytes from OHSt patients exhibit approximately 50% reduction in Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ exchange activity, while glucose uptake is increased and DHA transport is decreased. The absence of stomatin thus has measurable consequences for erythrocyte transport function [genetet-2017-ae1-modulation-abstract, montel-hagen-2008-dha-uptake-abstract].
Altered stomatin expression has been reported in various cancers. Decreased stomatin expression predicts poor prognosis in HER2-positive breast cancer. Stomatin's ability to control neutrophil degranulation, modulate transporter protein activity, and influence membrane organization may contribute to its roles in cancer progression and metastasis. The mechanisms underlying these associations remain areas of active investigation.
Several important questions about stomatin biology remain unresolved:
Mechanism of OHSt pathogenesis: Why do RHAG mutations lead to stomatin mistrafficking? What is the functional relationship between RhAG and stomatin that causes secondary stomatin loss?
Selectivity of ion channel modulation: Why does stomatin inhibit some channels (ASIC3) while its homolog MEC-2 potentiates others (MEC-4/MEC-10)? What determines whether a stomatin-domain protein will enhance or suppress channel activity?
Dynamics of oligomer assembly: How is stomatin oligomerization regulated in cells? What signals control the assembly and disassembly of stomatin ring structures, and how does this relate to functional states?
Coordination with other scaffolding proteins: How do stomatin, flotillins, and prohibitins cooperate or compete in organizing membrane domains? Do they form higher-order hetero-oligomeric complexes?
Cell division mechanisms: How does stomatin influence lipid metabolism and membrane dynamics during cytokinesis? Does stomatin interact directly with cytokinesis machinery or act indirectly through lipid organization?
Immune function specificity: What determines stomatin's differential effects on macrophage versus neutrophil function? Are these tissue-specific adaptations of a common scaffolding mechanism?
Therapeutic potential: Can stomatin-targeting compounds be developed for chronic pain management, inflammatory disorders, or cancer? The success of STOML3 oligomerization blockers in pain models provides proof-of-concept but stomatin-specific therapeutics remain unexplored.
NTCP regulation and viral entry: Does stomatin's modulation of NTCP affect hepatitis B/D virus entry into hepatocytes? Could targeting this interaction have antiviral therapeutic applications?
[appelman-2020-ntcp-bile-abstract] Appelman MD, Robin MJD, Vogels EWM, Wolzak C, Vos WG, Vos HR, Van Es RM, Burgering BMT, Van de Graaf SFJ. The Lipid Raft Component Stomatin Interacts with the Na+ Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide (NTCP) and Modulates Bile Salt Uptake. Cells. 2020 Apr 16;9(4):986. PMID: 32316189. DOI: 10.3390/cells9040986
[brand-2012-stomatin-dimer-abstract] Brand J, Smith ES, Schwefel D, Lapatsina L, Poole K, Omerbašić D, Kozlenkov A, Behlke J, Lewin GR, Daumke O. A stomatin dimer modulates the activity of acid-sensing ion channels. EMBO J. 2012 Sep 5;31(17):3635-46. PMID: 22850675. DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2012.203
[dona-2022-cytokinesis-lipid-abstract] Donà F, Özbalci C, Paquola A, Ferrentino F, Terry SJ, Storck EM, Wang G, Eggert US. Removal of Stomatin, a Membrane-Associated Cell Division Protein, Results in Specific Cellular Lipid Changes. J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Oct 5;144(39):18069-18074. PMID: 36136763. DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07907
[fricke-2005-ohst-trafficking-abstract] Fricke B, Parsons SF, Knöpfle G, von Düring M, Stewart GW. Stomatin is mis-trafficked in the erythrocytes of overhydrated hereditary stomatocytosis, and is absent from normal primitive yolk sac-derived erythrocytes. Br J Haematol. 2005 Oct;131(2):265-77. PMID: 16197460. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05742.x
[genetet-2017-ae1-modulation-abstract] Genetet S, Desrames A, Chouali Y, Ripoche P, Lopez C, Mouro-Chanteloup I. Stomatin modulates the activity of the Anion Exchanger 1 (AE1, SLC4A1). Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 7;7:46170. PMID: 28387307. DOI: 10.1038/srep46170
[goldmann-2023-dectin1-macrophage-abstract] Goldmann M, Schmidt F, Cseresnyés Z, Jaeger E, Hoefgen M, Svensson CM, Albrecht J, Grunert O, Hafner S, Figge MT, Vylkova T, Hillmann F, Brakhage AA. The Lipid Raft-Associated Protein Stomatin Is Required for Accumulation of Dectin-1 in the Phagosomal Membrane and for Full Activity of Macrophages against Aspergillus fumigatus. mSphere. 2023 Feb 21;8(1):e0052322. PMID: 36719247. DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00523-22
[goodman-2002-mec2-degenac-abstract] Goodman MB, Ernstrom GG, Chelur DS, O'Hagan R, Yao CA, Chalfie M. MEC-2 regulates C. elegans DEG/ENaC channels needed for mechanosensation. Nature. 2002 Feb 28;415(6875):1039-42. PMID: 11875573. DOI: 10.1038/4151039a
[hiebl-dirschmied-1991-cloning-abstract] Hiebl-Dirschmied CM, Entler B, Glotzmann C, Maurer-Fogy I, Stratowa C, Prohaska R. Cloning and nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding human erythrocyte band 7 integral membrane protein. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1991 Aug 27;1090(1):123-124. PMID: 1883838. DOI: 10.1016/0167-4781(91)90047-p
[huang-1995-mec2-abstract] Huang M, Gu G, Ferguson EL, Chalfie M. A stomatin-like protein necessary for mechanosensation in C. elegans. Nature. 1995 Nov 16;378(6554):292-5. PMID: 7477350. DOI: 10.1038/378292a0
[kadurin-2009-proline-topology-abstract] Kadurin I, Huber S, Gründer S. A single conserved proline residue determines the membrane topology of stomatin. Biochem J. 2009 Mar 15;418(3):587-94. PMID: 19032151. DOI: 10.1042/BJ20081662
[mairhofer-2002-platelet-abstract] Mairhofer M, Steiner M, Mosgoeller W, Prohaska R, Salzer U. Stomatin is a major lipid-raft component of platelet alpha granules. Blood. 2002 Aug 1;100(3):897-904. PMID: 12130500. DOI: 10.1182/blood.v100.3.897
[montel-hagen-2008-dha-uptake-abstract] Montel-Hagen A, Kinet S, Manel N, Mongellaz C, Prohaska R, Battini JL, Delaunay J, Sitbon M, Taylor N. Erythrocyte Glut1 triggers dehydroascorbic acid uptake in mammals unable to synthesize vitamin C. Cell. 2008 Mar 21;132(6):1039-48. PMID: 18358815. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2008.01.042
[poole-2014-piezo-tuning-abstract] Poole K, Herget R, Lapatsina L, Ngo HD, Lewin GR. Tuning Piezo ion channels to detect molecular-scale movements relevant for fine touch. Nat Commun. 2014 Mar 24;5:3520. PMID: 24662763. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4520
[price-2004-stomatin-asic-abstract] Price MP, Thompson RJ, Eshcol JO, Wemmie JA, Benson CJ. Stomatin modulates gating of acid-sensing ion channels. J Biol Chem. 2004 Dec 17;279(51):53886-91. PMID: 15471860. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M407708200
[qi-2015-stoml3-membrane-stiffening-abstract] Qi Y, Andolfi L, Frattini F, Mayer F, Lazzarino M, Hu J. Membrane stiffening by STOML3 facilitates mechanosensation in sensory neurons. Nat Commun. 2015 Oct 7;6:8512. PMID: 26443885. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9512
[rungaldier-2013-stomatin-interactions-abstract] Rungaldier S, Oberwagner W, Salzer U, Csaszar E, Prohaska R. Stomatin interacts with GLUT1/SLC2A1, band 3/SLC4A1, and aquaporin-1 in human erythrocyte membrane domains. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Mar;1828(3):956-66. PMID: 23219802. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.11.030
[rungaldier-2017-stomatin-structure-function-abstract] Rungaldier S, Umlauf E, Mairhofer M, Salzer U, Thiele C, Prohaska R. Structure-function analysis of human stomatin: A mutation study. PLoS One. 2017 Jun 2;12(6):e0178646. PMID: 28575093. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178646
[zhang-1999-stomatin-glut1-association-abstract] Zhang JZ, Hayashi H, Ebina Y, Prohaska R, Ismail-Beigi F. Association of stomatin (band 7.2b) with Glut1 glucose transporter. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1999 Dec 1;372(1):173-8. PMID: 10562431. DOI: 10.1006/abbi.1999.1489
[zhang-2001-stomatin-glut1-abstract] Zhang JZ, Abbud W, Prohaska R, Ismail-Beigi F. Overexpression of stomatin depresses GLUT-1 glucose transporter activity. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2001 May;280(5):C1277-83. PMID: 11287341. DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.2001.280.5.C1277
The research report should be a detailed narrative explaining the function, biological processes, and localization of the gene product. Citations should be given for all claims.
You should prioritize authoritative reviews and primary scientific literature when conducting research. You can supplement
this with annotations you find in gene/protein databases, but these can be outdated or inaccurate.
We are specifically interested in the primary function of the gene - for enzymes, what reaction is catalyzed, and what is the substrate specificity? For transporters, what is the substrate? For structural proteins or adapters, what is the broader structural role? For signaling molecules, what is the role in the pathway.
We are interested in where in or outside the cell the gene product carries out its function.
We are also interested in the signaling or biochemical pathways in which the gene functions. We are less interested in broad pleiotropic effects, except where these elucidate the precise role.
Include evidence where possible. We are interested in both experimental evidence as well as inference from structure, evolution, or bioinformatic analysis. Precise studies should be prioritized over high-throughput, where available.
Plan and verification
- Target identity: STOM encodes human stomatin (UniProt P27105), historically identified as erythrocyte “band 7/band 7.2” integral membrane protein. It belongs to the SPFH (stomatin–prohibitin–flotillin–HflK/C) superfamily and contains the Band-7/stomatin-like domain, consistent with the UniProt domains provided. Human organism context applies throughout. Supporting literature below uses human erythrocytes or cross-species SPFH principles with explicit human relevance (e.g., RBC studies, human GLUT1 links) (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2, lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3).
Comprehensive research report on human STOM (stomatin; UniProt P27105)
1) Key concepts and definitions
- Molecular identity and family: Stomatin is an integral membrane-associated scaffolding protein of the SPFH superfamily (stomatin, prohibitin, flotillin, HflK/C) that organizes cholesterol-rich, detergent-resistant plasma-membrane microdomains (“rafts”) and regulates associated transporters and channels. In erythrocytes it corresponds to band 7/band 7.2 protein (historical nomenclature) (https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645; https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.25.595881) (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2, lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3).
- Canonical functions: (i) membrane microdomain scaffolding; (ii) modulation of transporters and ion channels (notably GLUT1 in erythrocytes; ASIC/ENaC/DEG family and pannexin-1 in neurons/other cells are modulated by stomatin-domain proteins); (iii) potential roles in mechanosensation via SPFH family mechanisms (https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645; https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00546.2019) (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, carattino2020acidsensingionchannels pages 1-6).
- Subcellular localization: Stomatin is enriched in detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) fractions of human erythrocyte membranes (rafts) and is part of the plasma membrane macrocomplex landscape (https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165) (murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2).
2) Current understanding of molecular mechanisms and complexes
- Membrane microdomains and SPFH architecture: SPFH proteins share a conserved SPFH domain followed by a long coiled-coil that mediates oligomerization and membrane association (often via palmitoylation/myristoylation and cholesterol interaction motifs). Recent structural work on human flotillin (another SPFH member) shows alternating FLOT1/FLOT2 hetero-oligomers assembling into a dome-shaped 44-mer that encage ~30 nm patches of the cytoplasmic leaflet, offering a mechanistic paradigm for SPFH scaffolds that likely generalizes to stomatin’s microdomain organization (https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.25.595881; bioRxiv, 2024) (lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3).
- Stomatin oligomerization and domain organization (emerging): Cryo-EM of human stomatin suggests 16-mer bowl-shaped oligomers that cluster on membranes and increase lipid order, consistent with a direct role in organizing functional microdomains (bioRxiv 2025; https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307). Super-resolution imaging reports stomatin clusters ~50–150 nm in diameter in cells; polymerization-deficient mutants fail to enhance lipid order, supporting a polymerization-dependent scaffolding mechanism (yan2025structuralroleof pages 1-5, yan2025structuralroleof pages 28-33, yan2025structuralroleof pages 5-9, yan2025structuralroleof pages 9-13, yan2025structuralroleof pages 33-40, yan2025structuralroleof pages 22-26). Although 2025 and preprint, these data are congruent with SPFH microdomain models anchored by 2024 flotillin cryo-EM (lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3).
- RBC raft biology and selective cargo: In human erythrocytes, stomatin is a major DRM component alongside band 3 (SLC4A1) and flotillins. During P. falciparum infection, some DRM proteins (flotillins) are recruited to the parasitophorous vacuole, while others (band 3, stomatin) are excluded, indicating selective raft protein uptake and highlighting stomatin’s membrane microdomain context (https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165) (murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2).
3) Transporters/channels regulated by stomatin and pathway placement
- GLUT1 (SLC2A1) in erythrocytes: Stomatin associates with erythrocyte GLUT1; this association has been reported to switch GLUT1′s preference toward L-dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) transport during terminal erythroid maturation, a primate strategy to import vitamin C equivalents. In stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis (sdCHC), pathogenic SLC2A1 variants produce RBCs that lack stomatin and exhibit both impaired glucose transport and a cation leak when mutant GLUT1 is expressed in oocytes, defining a GLUT1-linked hereditary stomatocytosis variant (Blood, 2011; https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645). These data establish a functional STOM–GLUT1 axis with physiological consequences in RBCs (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 12-12).
- ASICs/ENaC/DEG family: In mammals, stomatin-domain proteins are part of the protein networks that modulate acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), which are involved in mechanotransduction, nociception, and chemoreception. Reviews emphasize their association within membrane microdomains and tethering networks, placing stomatin proteins as modulators of ASIC gating/trafficking in sensory neurons (Am J Physiol-Renal Physiol 2020; https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00546.2019) (carattino2020acidsensingionchannels pages 1-6).
4) Subcellular localization and tissue distribution
- Erythrocytes: Stomatin is abundant in human erythrocyte membranes, enriched in DRM (raft) fractions, and often studied as part of the RBC membrane macrocomplex milieu (https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165) (murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2).
- Developmental dynamics: During reticulocyte maturation, stomatin is reduced through endocytic/exosomal pathways; its levels define erythroid maturation states in some studies (Blood 2011; contextual citations within) (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 12-12).
- Other tissues/cells: While detailed human tissue distribution was not directly quantified in the retrieved 2023–2024 sources, SPFH roles are broadly conserved across cell types; flotillin structural data (2024) and stomatin oligomerization (2025 preprint) indicate generalizable membrane-scaffold functions beyond erythrocytes (https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.25.595881; https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307) (lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3, yan2025structuralroleof pages 1-5).
5) Disease associations and clinical relevance
- Stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis (sdCHC; hereditary stomatocytosis variant): Patients harbor SLC2A1 mutations; RBCs lack stomatin and display cold-induced cation leak, hemolytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, and neurological manifestations typical of GLUT1 deficiency. Heterologous expression of mutant GLUT1 recapitulates cation leak and transport defects. sdCHC establishes a clinico-genetic link between GLUT1 and stomatin deficiency at the RBC membrane (Blood, 2011; https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645) (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 12-12).
- Broader hydration disorders: Reviews of erythrocyte hydration disorders highlight GLUT1, SLC4A1, RHAG, PIEZO1, KCNN4 as key contributors and contextualize stomatin within the RBC membrane network; OHSt/RHAG variants produce monovalent cation leaks, with stomatin loss noted in some phenotypes, reinforcing its diagnostic/molecular milieu (Blood, 2017; https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2017-04-590810) (gallagher2017disordersoferythrocyte pages 1-5).
6) Recent developments (emphasis 2023–2024) and expert perspectives
- RBC GLUT1 knockout study (2024): CRISPR-engineered human erythroblasts and primary CD34+ progenitors generated reticulocytes lacking GLUT1. Despite GLUT1’s abundance (~200,000 copies/cell; ~10% of RBC membrane protein mass), complete absence did not impede erythroblast proliferation, differentiation, enucleation, or reticulocyte membrane composition/deformability, though metabolic adaptations, increased osmotic fragility, and oxidative stress hallmarks were noted. This study recapitulates that reduced GLUT1 expression alone does not cause anemia in GLUT1 deficiency, and it explicitly situates GLUT1 within a membrane complex with stomatin/adducin/dematin in human RBCs (bioRxiv, 2024; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.10.574621). These data refine expectations of the stomatin–GLUT1 axis by separating erythropoiesis and mechanics from metabolism and antioxidant capacity in the absence of GLUT1 (freire2024completeabsenceof pages 1-3, freire2024completeabsenceof pages 3-5).
- SPFH structural paradigm (2024): Cryo-EM of human flotillin complexes (3.57 Å) demonstrates large dome/ring oligomers that segregate ~30 nm membrane microdomains, supporting a general SPFH-based mechanism for microdomain formation and protein sequestration relevant to stomatin (bioRxiv, 2024; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.25.595881) (lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3).
- Emerging stomatin structural insights (2025 preprint): Cryo-EM and cell imaging suggest human stomatin forms 16-mer bowls, organizes 50–150 nm microdomains, and increases lipid order, offering a plausible structural basis for stomatin’s raft scaffolding and cargo regulation (https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307). While outside the 2023–2024 window and preprint, the findings align with the 2024 flotillin structures and with historical RBC raft evidence (yan2025structuralroleof pages 1-5, yan2025structuralroleof pages 28-33, yan2025structuralroleof pages 5-9, yan2025structuralroleof pages 9-13, yan2025structuralroleof pages 33-40).
- ASICs and stomatin-domain proteins (2020 review, with 2023–2024 ASIC literature context): Reviews underscore stomatin-domain proteins as part of ASIC regulatory networks in sensory neurons and other tissues, integrating mechanotransduction and chemosensation in lipid-raft contexts (Am J Physiol-Renal Physiol, 2020; https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00546.2019) (carattino2020acidsensingionchannels pages 1-6).
7) Current applications and real-world implementations
- Hematology diagnostics and mechanistic models: Stomatin serves as a biochemical marker in RBC DRM fractions and is informative in classifying hereditary stomatocytosis subtypes with membrane-protein macrocomplex defects (Blood, 2011; Blood, 2017). Selective recruitment/exclusion of raft proteins (e.g., stomatin excluded) during malaria infection of RBCs provides an experimental model to probe host–pathogen interactions and raft function (Blood, 2004; https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165) (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, gallagher2017disordersoferythrocyte pages 1-5, murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2).
- Membrane microdomain scaffolds as targets: Structural definition of SPFH complexes (flotillin, 2024) supports rational exploration of microdomain-modulating strategies (e.g., cholesterol/raft perturbation) in trafficking and signaling, with translational implications across cell types (https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.25.595881) (lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3).
8) Relevant statistics and quantitative data
- Abundance of GLUT1 in human RBCs: ~200,000 copies per cell, accounting for ~10% of total RBC membrane protein mass; stomatin is part of the same RBC membrane macro-environment (bioRxiv, 2024; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.10.574621) (freire2024completeabsenceof pages 1-3).
- DRM composition in RBCs: Band 3 and stomatin reflect bulk DRM mass; flotillin-1/-2 and peroxiredoxin-2 are additional DRM constituents (Blood, 2004; https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165) (murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2).
- SPFH microdomain dimensions: Flotillin complex encloses ~30 nm circular membrane patches (bioRxiv, 2024; https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.25.595881). Stomatin clusters reported at ~50–150 nm (preprint, 2025; https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307) (lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3, yan2025structuralroleof pages 33-40).
9) Expert analysis and synthesis
- Primary role: Stomatin is best defined as a membrane microdomain scaffold/regulator rather than an enzyme or classical transporter. Its most strongly supported, specific interaction in human biology is with GLUT1 in erythrocytes, where it contributes to substrate preference switching toward DHA during maturation and participates in macrocomplex organization affecting ion homeostasis. The sdCHC entity links stomatin absence and GLUT1 dysfunction with cation leaks and hemolysis, underscoring functional coupling between raft scaffolds and solute transport (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 12-12).
- Broader signaling roles: Through SPFH-mediated oligomerization and raft organization, stomatin can influence the biophysical environment of ion channels and transporters (ASICs, pannexin-1, AE1 macrocomplex neighbors), providing a mechanistic basis for pleiotropic influences on mechanosensation and chemosensation described for stomatin-domain proteins (carattino2020acidsensingionchannels pages 1-6, murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2).
- 2023–2024 priorities: The 2024 human RBC GLUT1 knockout work refines the clinical interpretation of GLUT1 deficiency vis-à-vis RBCs and highlights that absence of GLUT1 (and thus loss of any stomatin–GLUT1 interaction) can be tolerated in erythroid differentiation, while altering metabolic resilience. Parallel SPFH structural advances (flotillin) provide a generalizable template for stomatin’s microdomain architecture, now complemented by emerging stomatin cryo-EM in 2025 preprints (freire2024completeabsenceof pages 1-3, lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3, yan2025structuralroleof pages 1-5).
10) Gaps and future directions (brief)
- High-resolution human stomatin structures in peer-reviewed journals and in the 2023–2024 window remain a gap; preprint data are promising but require validation. Quantitative, in vivo human evidence for stomatin’s modulation of specific channels (e.g., ASICs) and transporters beyond GLUT1 in defined tissues remains to be elaborated.
References (URLs and years)
- Flatt et al., Blood, 2011. “Stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis results from mutations in SLC2A1.” https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645 (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 12-12).
- Murphy et al., Blood, 2004. “Erythrocyte detergent-resistant membrane proteins…” https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165 (murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2).
- Carattino & Montalbetti, Am J Physiol-Renal Physiol, 2020. “Acid-sensing ion channels in sensory signaling.” https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00546.2019 (carattino2020acidsensingionchannels pages 1-6).
- Gallagher, Blood, 2017. “Disorders of erythrocyte hydration.” https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2017-04-590810 (gallagher2017disordersoferythrocyte pages 1-5).
- Freire et al., bioRxiv, 2024. “Complete absence of GLUT1 does not impair human terminal erythroid differentiation.” https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.10.574621 (freire2024completeabsenceof pages 1-3, freire2024completeabsenceof pages 3-5).
- Lu et al., bioRxiv, 2024. “Molecular mechanism of the flotillin complex in membrane microdomain organization.” https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.25.595881 (lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3).
- Yan et al., bioRxiv, 2025. “Structural role of stomatin in organizing functional membrane microdomains.” https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307 (yan2025structuralroleof pages 1-5, yan2025structuralroleof pages 28-33, yan2025structuralroleof pages 5-9, yan2025structuralroleof pages 9-13, yan2025structuralroleof pages 33-40, yan2025structuralroleof pages 22-26).
Conclusion
Human stomatin (STOM) is a membrane microdomain scaffold of the SPFH family, abundant in erythrocyte rafts and mechanistically positioned to regulate transporter and ion channel function through oligomeric organization of lipid-ordered domains. The stomatin–GLUT1 interaction in RBCs is the clearest, historically supported example, relevant to substrate preference (DHA transport) and to pathophysiology in sdCHC. Recent 2024 studies advance our understanding of RBC membrane biology (GLUT1 deletion tolerance) and SPFH architecture (flotillin cryo-EM), while 2025 preprints supply direct structural hypotheses for human stomatin assemblies that align with the broader SPFH paradigm (flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3, murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2, freire2024completeabsenceof pages 1-3, lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3, yan2025structuralroleof pages 1-5).
References
(flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 1-3): Joanna F. Flatt, Hélène Guizouarn, Nicholas M. Burton, Franck Borgese, Richard J. Tomlinson, Robert J. Forsyth, Stephen A. Baldwin, Bari E. Levinson, Philippe Quittet, Patricia Aguilar-Martinez, Jean Delaunay, Gordon W. Stewart, and Lesley J. Bruce. Stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis results from mutations in slc2a1: a novel form of glut1 deficiency syndrome. Blood, 118 19:5267-77, Nov 2011. URL: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645, doi:10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645. This article has 103 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(murphy2004erythrocytedetergentresistantmembrane pages 1-2): Sean C. Murphy, Benjamin U. Samuel, Travis Harrison, Kaye D. Speicher, David W. Speicher, Marion E. Reid, Rainer Prohaska, Philip S. Low, Michael J. Tanner, Narla Mohandas, and Kasturi Haldar. Erythrocyte detergent-resistant membrane proteins: their characterization and selective uptake during malarial infection. Blood, 103 5:1920-8, Mar 2004. URL: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165, doi:10.1182/blood-2003-09-3165. This article has 192 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(lu2024molecularmechanismof pages 1-3): Ming-Ao Lu, Yunwen Qian, Liangwen Ma, Qiang Guo, and Ning Gao. Molecular mechanism of the flotillin complex in membrane microdomain organization. bioRxiv, May 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.25.595881, doi:10.1101/2024.05.25.595881. This article has 7 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
(carattino2020acidsensingionchannels pages 1-6): Marcelo D. Carattino and Nicolas Montalbetti. Acid-sensing ion channels in sensory signaling. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 318:F531-F543, Mar 2020. URL: https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00546.2019, doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00546.2019. This article has 46 citations and is from a peer-reviewed journal.
(yan2025structuralroleof pages 1-5): Lu Yan, Xinyue Zhou, Meiqi Li, Chenxi Wang, Bailong Xiao, Peng Xi, Peng Zou, and Ning Gao. Structural role of stomatin in organizing functional membrane microdomains. BioRxiv, Sep 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307, doi:10.1101/2025.08.30.673307. This article has 0 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
(yan2025structuralroleof pages 28-33): Lu Yan, Xinyue Zhou, Meiqi Li, Chenxi Wang, Bailong Xiao, Peng Xi, Peng Zou, and Ning Gao. Structural role of stomatin in organizing functional membrane microdomains. BioRxiv, Sep 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307, doi:10.1101/2025.08.30.673307. This article has 0 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
(yan2025structuralroleof pages 5-9): Lu Yan, Xinyue Zhou, Meiqi Li, Chenxi Wang, Bailong Xiao, Peng Xi, Peng Zou, and Ning Gao. Structural role of stomatin in organizing functional membrane microdomains. BioRxiv, Sep 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307, doi:10.1101/2025.08.30.673307. This article has 0 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
(yan2025structuralroleof pages 9-13): Lu Yan, Xinyue Zhou, Meiqi Li, Chenxi Wang, Bailong Xiao, Peng Xi, Peng Zou, and Ning Gao. Structural role of stomatin in organizing functional membrane microdomains. BioRxiv, Sep 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307, doi:10.1101/2025.08.30.673307. This article has 0 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
(yan2025structuralroleof pages 33-40): Lu Yan, Xinyue Zhou, Meiqi Li, Chenxi Wang, Bailong Xiao, Peng Xi, Peng Zou, and Ning Gao. Structural role of stomatin in organizing functional membrane microdomains. BioRxiv, Sep 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307, doi:10.1101/2025.08.30.673307. This article has 0 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
(yan2025structuralroleof pages 22-26): Lu Yan, Xinyue Zhou, Meiqi Li, Chenxi Wang, Bailong Xiao, Peng Xi, Peng Zou, and Ning Gao. Structural role of stomatin in organizing functional membrane microdomains. BioRxiv, Sep 2025. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673307, doi:10.1101/2025.08.30.673307. This article has 0 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
(flatt2011stomatindeficientcryohydrocytosisresults pages 12-12): Joanna F. Flatt, Hélène Guizouarn, Nicholas M. Burton, Franck Borgese, Richard J. Tomlinson, Robert J. Forsyth, Stephen A. Baldwin, Bari E. Levinson, Philippe Quittet, Patricia Aguilar-Martinez, Jean Delaunay, Gordon W. Stewart, and Lesley J. Bruce. Stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis results from mutations in slc2a1: a novel form of glut1 deficiency syndrome. Blood, 118 19:5267-77, Nov 2011. URL: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645, doi:10.1182/blood-2010-12-326645. This article has 103 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(gallagher2017disordersoferythrocyte pages 1-5): Patrick G. Gallagher. Disorders of erythrocyte hydration. Blood, 130 25:2699-2708, Dec 2017. URL: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2017-04-590810, doi:10.1182/blood-2017-04-590810. This article has 141 citations and is from a highest quality peer-reviewed journal.
(freire2024completeabsenceof pages 1-3): CM Freire, NR King, M Dzieciatkowska, D Stephenson, PL Moura, J.G.G Dobbe, GJ Streekstra, A D’Alessandro, AM Toye, and TJ Satchwell. Complete absence of glut1 does not impair human terminal erythroid differentiation. bioRxiv, Jan 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.10.574621, doi:10.1101/2024.01.10.574621. This article has 6 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
(freire2024completeabsenceof pages 3-5): CM Freire, NR King, M Dzieciatkowska, D Stephenson, PL Moura, J.G.G Dobbe, GJ Streekstra, A D’Alessandro, AM Toye, and TJ Satchwell. Complete absence of glut1 does not impair human terminal erythroid differentiation. bioRxiv, Jan 2024. URL: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.01.10.574621, doi:10.1101/2024.01.10.574621. This article has 6 citations and is from a poor quality or predatory journal.
Stomatin is a widely expressed membrane protein encoded by the human STOM gene (UniProt P27105). It belongs to the stomatin/prohibitin/flotillin/HflK/C (SPFH) superfamily (also called the band-7 family) of membrane proteins, which are known for organizing lipid microdomains (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Stomatin is a ~31 kDa integral membrane protein that attaches to the cytosolic side of the plasma membrane via a hydrophobic segment (residues 26–54) in a hairpin-like insertion (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Both its N- and C-termini face the cytoplasm, consistent with a monotopic membrane topology (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Stomatin was first identified in human red blood cell (RBC) membranes (historically termed band 7.2b), and it was named for its absence in overhydrated hereditary stomatocytosis (OHSt), a condition where stomatin-deficient RBCs exhibit abnormal “stomatocyte” morphology (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The protein is highly conserved across species, with homologs like MEC-2 in C. elegans and podocin in kidney cells, reflecting its fundamental role in membrane biology (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Oligomerization and lipid rafts: A hallmark of stomatin is its tendency to form homo-oligomers and associate with cholesterol-rich lipid rafts in the membrane (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In RBCs and other cells, stomatin molecules assemble into large complexes that are resistant to detergent, indicating raft association (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Breakthrough structural studies in 2025 resolved the cryo-EM structure of human stomatin in membranes, revealing a 16-subunit ring-shaped complex ~12 nm in diameter (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). This ring forms a cage-like microdomain in the membrane that is mechanically distinct and resistant to curvature (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Such an arrangement suggests stomatin can stiffen the local membrane area, consistent with the idea that stomatin-rich rafts act as mechanotransduction platforms (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). (Notably, other stomatin-family proteins like podocin and STOML3 similarly oligomerize and influence membrane stiffness in mechanosensory cells (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).) Early biochemical work also indicated that stomatin is palmitoylated and partitions into raft fractions along with other major raft proteins (such as flotillins) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), although the recent structural data did not find a permanent cholesterol-binding pocket in stomatin’s structure (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Together, these features classify stomatin as a membrane scaffolding protein that organizes specialized lipid domains.
Localization: Stomatin is primarily localized to the plasma membrane, on the cytoplasmic side, where it clusters into discrete patches corresponding to lipid rafts (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In human RBCs, it is one of the major membrane proteins (~2–5% of total membrane protein) and is especially enriched in raft regions (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Stomatin has also been observed in intracellular vesicles and is notably enriched in exosomes. In fact, stomatin’s consistent presence in exosomes from many cell types (including blood cells and cancer cells) has led to proposals of using it as an exosomal marker (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). This enrichment likely ties to its raft-partitioning property, since several raft-organizing proteins (e.g., flotillin-1/2, caveolin-1) tend to be packaged into exosomes (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Stomatin can also interact with other SPFH-family members to traffic within the cell; for example, stomatin-like protein 1 (STOML1) binds stomatin and targets to late endosomes (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), though stomatin itself predominantly resides at the cell surface under steady-state conditions.
One of stomatin’s primary functions is to serve as a membrane scaffold or adaptor, organizing and modulating the activity of various membrane proteins. Stomatin exists as homo-oligomers in the membrane and can form complexes with a range of ion channels and transporters (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). A 2013 proteomic analysis of chemically cross-linked RBC membranes provided a clear picture of stomatin’s interactome in erythrocytes. The study identified GLUT1 (glucose transporter 1), band 3 anion exchanger (AE1), and aquaporin-1 as the major proteins cross-linked to stomatin, alongside several others such as the urea transporter (UT-B/SLC14A1), nucleoside transporter (ENT1/SLC29A1), plasma membrane Ca²⁺-ATPase (PMCA4), ferroportin (SLC40A1), CD47, and flotillin-1/2 (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). These findings strongly support the idea that stomatin organizes multi-protein complexes in lipid rafts and influences the function of transport proteins in its vicinity (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Stomatin itself does not have known enzymatic activity – instead, it modulates other proteins’ activities through direct or indirect interactions, likely by affecting their localization, stability, or conformational state.
Regulation of transporter function: In erythrocytes, stomatin’s interaction with GLUT1 has a remarkable effect on substrate flux. Stomatin binding appears to alter GLUT1’s substrate specificity, diverting it from transporting glucose to transporting dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) – the oxidized form of vitamin C (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). This was shown in species (like humans) that cannot synthesize vitamin C: stomatin helps convert GLUT1 into a high-affinity DHA importer, enabling efficient vitamin C uptake and recycling in RBCs (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). As a result, stomatin-rich RBCs take up oxidized vitamin C from plasma and reduce it internally, a critical process for antioxidant maintenance in humans (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Concomitantly, stomatin presence was found to repress glucose uptake through GLUT1 in RBCs while enhancing DHA uptake (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The molecular mechanism is still under investigation, but this functional switch has been documented and links stomatin to metabolic adaptation in erythrocytes (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Stomatin also modulates transporter activity in other cell types. In hepatocytes, stomatin has been shown to interact with the sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP/SLC10A1) – the bile acid uptake transporter – within raft microdomains (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Co-immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed stomatin–NTCP binding, and functional assays demonstrated that knocking down stomatin leads to increased bile salt uptake via NTCP (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Interestingly, stomatin depletion raised NTCP levels at the cell surface, suggesting that stomatin normally limits NTCP’s plasma membrane abundance or activity (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). This indicates a negative regulatory role where stomatin keeps bile acid import in check, possibly by organizing NTCP in specific membrane domains or affecting its endocytic recycling. Such regulatory interactions underscore stomatin’s broader role as a modulator of solute transport across membranes.
Ion channel modulation and mechanosensation: Stomatin and its homologs are well known to influence ion channel function, particularly mechanosensitive and acid-sensing channels. In sensory neurons, stomatin is part of a protein complex (including stomatin-like proteins) that associates with acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) and other degenerin/ENaC family channels (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Mammalian stomatin can bind ASIC subunits; notably, experiments have shown that stomatin must form dimers or higher-order oligomers to exert an inhibitory effect on ASIC currents (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). For example, co-expression of stomatin was found to reduce ASIC3-mediated cation currents, and mutational studies revealed that stomatin monomers alone bind ASICs but dimerization is required for channel gating modulation (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). These findings align with a 2012 study where a stomatin dimer was seen to modulate ASIC activity in vitro (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Beyond ASICs, stomatin-family proteins are integral to mechanosensory apparatus: Stomatin-like protein 3 (STOML3) is essential for touch sensation in mice, as it modulates mechanotransducer channels in dorsal root ganglion neurons (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In C. elegans, the stomatin homolog MEC-2 is required for mechanosensitive channel function in touch receptor neurons (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Recent research (2023) in worm neurons showed that MEC-2 forms dynamic protein condensates at the membrane that transition from liquid-like to a more solid state, a change that correlates with switching the complex’s function from cargo transport to mechanical signal transduction (phys.org) (phys.org). This highlights a general mechanism whereby stomatin proteins oligomerize to tune membrane mechanics and ion channel activity, impacting how cells sense mechanical forces. While stomatin (STOM) in humans is not the only player in touch sensation (redundant family members like STOML3 take on specialized roles), it clearly participates in ion channel regulation in various contexts.
A striking example in mechanosensation is in red blood cells themselves. RBCs experience shear stress in circulation and rely on mechanosensitive channels for volume regulation. Pannexin 1 (PANX1), a mechanosensitive membrane channel, was recently found to associate with stomatin in RBCs (www.mdpi.com). Proximity ligation assays showed that stomatin and PANX1 lie in close nanometer proximity on the erythrocyte membrane (www.mdpi.com). When stomatin is absent – as in RBCs from OHSt patients – PANX1 channel activity is dysregulated, supporting the idea that stomatin normally restrains or organizes PANX1 function (www.mdpi.com). Indeed, stomatin-deficient OHSt red cells exhibit a pathological leak of Na^+ and K^+ ions (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The loss of stomatin causes an unregulated cation flux and osmotic fragility in these cells (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Thus, stomatin is thought to stabilize ion channels or transporters in a closed/inactive state under resting conditions, preventing detrimental leaks. The pathophysiology of hereditary stomatocytosis underscores stomatin’s role: in the OHSt subtype, mutations in the Rh-associated glycoprotein (RhAG) lead to mis-trafficking of stomatin, its absence from RBC membranes, and consequent Na^+/K^+ leakage (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Another rare variant called stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis (sdCHC) is caused by GLUT1 mutations and likewise results in RBCs with no stomatin and extreme cation permeability, alongside neurological symptoms (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). These disease connections illustrate that stomatin is crucial for maintaining membrane permeability barriers and ion homeostasis in red cells, likely through its interactions with transporters and channels.
Erythrocyte physiology: In human erythrocytes, stomatin constitutes ~2–3% of the membrane protein and is a key structural element of the membrane skeleton and raft domains (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Although stomatin is not required for RBC viability in mice (Stom knockout mice are viable and do not show obvious stomatocytosis (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)), human RBCs lacking stomatin (in OHSt or sdCHC patients) have significant defects in volume regulation and membrane stability (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Stomatin is thought to organize a sub-membranous network by linking to the actin-spectrin cytoskeleton – early microscopy showed stomatin co-localizes with cortical actin filaments in some cells (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). However, no direct actin-binding sequence has been confirmed in stomatin, and this remains an area of investigation (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The prevailing model is that stomatin-rich lipid rafts provide platforms to concentrate and regulate membrane transporters (like band 3, GLUT1, aquaporin, etc.) and to possibly sequester ion channels. By doing so, stomatin helps the RBC adapt to stresses: for instance, during oxidative stress, the stomatin-GLUT1 switch to vitamin C uptake helps protect RBCs (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov); during mechanical stress, stomatin may modulate stretch-activated channels (such as PANX1 or Piezo-type channels) to prevent undue ion leakage (www.mdpi.com). Stomatin also leaves reticulocytes via exosomes during RBC maturation in some species, in parallel with other membrane proteins (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) – this regulated removal may fine-tune the final content of the mature red cell membrane. Overall, stomatin’s primary role in RBCs is structural and regulatory, ensuring proper membrane composition, fluidity, and transporter function for a durable, biconcave cell (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Signal transduction and metabolic pathways: Beyond RBCs, stomatin has emerging roles in cell signaling and metabolism. A recent Nature Communications (2022) study demonstrated that stomatin influences adipogenesis (fat cell differentiation) through the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Stomatin is highly expressed in adipocyte lipid rafts, and its expression increases when pre-adipocytes are induced to differentiate or when mice are fed a high-fat diet (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Functional assays showed that overexpression of stomatin enhances lipid droplet growth (by promoting droplet fusion) and fatty acid uptake in maturing adipocytes (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Conversely, stomatin knockdown impaired the normal induction of key adipogenic transcription factors (such as C/EBPβ and PPARγ) and led to smaller adipocytes with less lipid storage (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Mechanistically, stomatin was found to modulate the activity of the ERK pathway during differentiation – loss of stomatin resulted in altered phosphorylation dynamics of ERK1/2, which are crucial for adipogenesis (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). These findings position stomatin as a positive regulator of adipocyte maturation, linking membrane microdomain organization to intracellular signaling cascades. It appears that by scaffolding certain raft proteins (possibly insulin or growth factor receptors, or downstream effectors), stomatin can influence the ERK pathway and thereby the gene expression program of differentiation (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Stomatin’s impact on signaling is also evident in other contexts. In the liver, as noted, stomatin modulates bile acid signaling by regulating NTCP-mediated bile uptake – which could have downstream effects on metabolic homeostasis and even viral entry (since NTCP is the entry receptor for hepatitis B/D viruses) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). There is also evidence that stomatin can interact with signaling molecules or adaptors. A proteomic study in macrophages (2023) found that stomatin binds to peroxiredoxin-1 (Prdx1), a redox-regulating enzyme, and targets it for lysosomal degradation (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). By promoting Prdx1 turnover, stomatin caused an increase in cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, which in turn enhanced NF-κB signaling and osteoclast differentiation (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). This was shown in the context of bone metabolism: stomatin expression was upregulated in osteoclast precursors from osteoporotic bone, and mice lacking stomatin had increased bone mass due to reduced osteoclast activity (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Importantly, inhibiting stomatin in macrophage/osteoclast-lineage cells blunted osteoclastogenesis and protected mice from estrogen-withdrawal bone loss (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). These results reveal a novel role for stomatin in a ROS-mediated signaling pathway that drives cell differentiation (osteoclast formation). It reinforces the concept that stomatin’s scaffold function is not limited to ion transporters – it can extend to organizing signal-regulatory complexes (in this case, a Prdx1 degradation complex) at the membrane or cytosolic face, thereby influencing pathways like oxidative signaling and NF-κB.
Pathophysiological and clinical significance: While stomatin is ubiquitously expressed, its dysregulation can have tissue-specific consequences. In the hematological realm, stomatin levels serve as a diagnostic marker for certain hereditary anemias (OHSt and cryohydrocytosis) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). In those disorders, absence of stomatin in RBC membranes is a hallmark finding, used to distinguish them from other hemolytic anemias. Interestingly, the causative mutations in these conditions lie in other genes (ion channels or transporters), suggesting stomatin loss is a downstream effect that exacerbates the membrane leak phenotype (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The “stomatin-deficient” phenotype in anemic patients highlights how crucial stomatin is for normal RBC function.
Emerging evidence links stomatin to cancer and other diseases, mostly through its regulatory effects on signaling pathways. For instance, low stomatin expression has been correlated with increased metastasis in some cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer, implying a tumor suppressor function (possibly by restraining pro-migratory signaling at the membrane) (www.spandidos-publications.com). In contrast, high stomatin levels in certain lymphoma subtypes were associated with worse prognosis, suggesting context-dependent effects (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Experimentally, overexpressing stomatin in cancer cell lines was reported to inhibit the Akt signaling axis and slow tumor growth, supporting a role in modulating growth factor signaling at lipid rafts (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). These findings are still preliminary, but they dovetail with the idea that stomatin-rich microdomains influence signaling pathways like Akt and ERK that are central to proliferation and survival. Given its involvement in multiple pathways, stomatin (and its binding partners) could be explored as therapeutic targets. The osteoporosis study mentioned above is a prime example – by targeting stomatin in certain cells, researchers achieved a beneficial modulation of cell function (reducing osteoclast activity) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). Similarly, manipulating stomatin levels could potentially alter metabolic outcomes in obesity or modulate viral entry in hepatitis (via NTCP interaction), though such applications remain to be tested.
Stomatin (STOM) is now recognized as a multifaceted membrane organizer that influences cell physiology by shaping the lipid microenvironment and regulating membrane protein function. Its primary role is structural and regulatory: forming membrane microdomains (rafts) and scaffolding select channels and transporters, thereby tuning their activity. In human cells, stomatin helps control substrate transport (glucose, vitamin C, bile acids), ion flux (Na^+, K^+, etc.), and mechanosensitive signaling, all dependent on context. These specific functions are carried out at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane, often in cholesterol-rich domains where stomatin oligomers reside (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (www.mdpi.com). From red blood cells ensuring osmotic stability, to neurons modulating mechano‐transducers, to adipocytes expanding lipid stores, stomatin’s influence is widespread but consistently centers on organizing membrane components to facilitate the appropriate physiological response.
Mechanistically, stomatin does not act as an enzyme or classic receptor; rather, it is an adaptor protein – it binds to proteins like GLUT1, ASIC channels, or NTCP and alters their localization or function through direct interaction or by altering the local membrane properties (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The biological significance of stomatin is evident from both evolutionary conservation and disease associations. Loss of stomatin from the membrane can lead to dramatic phenotypes (ion-leaky, fragile RBCs (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), impaired mechanosensation (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), or altered cell differentiation (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)), whereas proper stomatin function contributes to homeostasis (e.g. vitamin C recycling in humans via RBCs (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)). Ongoing research (2022–2024) continues to uncover new roles, such as stomatin’s control of MAPK signaling in adipogenesis (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) and its impact on osteoclast biology through ROS signaling (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). These studies not only deepen our understanding of how stomatin works at the molecular level, but also point to potential translational avenues – for example, targeting stomatin-rich lipid raft complexes could modulate immune cell activity or metabolic processes in disease. In summary, stomatin serves as a key structural regulator of cell membranes, orchestrating the interplay between membrane structure and function to support proper cellular physiology.
References: (Key references from recent literature are cited in-line above, with publication year and source when available)
id: P27105
gene_symbol: STOM
product_type: PROTEIN
aliases:
- EPB72
- BND7
- Band 7.2b
taxon:
id: NCBITaxon:9606
label: Homo sapiens
description: >
Stomatin (STOM/EPB72/Band 7.2b) is a 31-kDa integral membrane-associated scaffolding
protein
of the SPFH (stomatin-prohibitin-flotillin-HflK/C) superfamily. The protein contains
a
characteristic Band-7/SPFH domain and forms homo-oligomeric complexes (9-12 monomers)
that
organize cholesterol-rich, detergent-resistant membrane microdomains (lipid rafts).
Stomatin
is palmitoylated at Cys-30 and Cys-87, anchoring it to the cytoplasmic leaflet of
the plasma
membrane via an intramembrane hydrophobic segment (residues 26-54). The protein
is abundantly
expressed in erythrocyte membranes and platelets, where it associates with transporters
and
ion channels including GLUT1 (SLC2A1), anion exchanger 1 (AE1/SLC4A1), and aquaporin-1.
Stomatin positively regulates AE1-mediated Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity through direct
protein-protein interaction, and modulates GLUT1 substrate preference toward
L-dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) during erythroid maturation. Loss of stomatin in hereditary
stomatocytosis (stomatin-deficient cryohydrocytosis) is associated with RBC cation
leak
and hemolytic anemia. Stomatin also modulates acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC) activity,
functioning as an ion channel inhibitor in the broader context of mechanosensation
and
chemosensation.
existing_annotations:
- term:
id: GO:0008200
label: ion channel inhibitor activity
evidence_type: IBA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000033
review:
summary: >
Stomatin regulates ASIC2 and ASIC3 channel activity according to UniProt functional
annotation. The IBA annotation is consistent with the SPFH family paradigm
where
stomatin-domain proteins modulate acid-sensing ion channels in sensory signaling
contexts [PMID:31949695, Carattino & Montalbetti 2020]. This represents a
core
function of the stomatin family.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
The IBA annotation correctly captures stomatin's role as an ion channel modulator.
UniProt states "Regulates ion channel activity and transmembrane ion transport.
Regulates ASIC2 and ASIC3 channel activity" with evidence from similarity
to
mouse stomatin (UniProtKB:P54116). This function is phylogenetically conserved
across the SPFH family.
supported_by:
- reference_id: UniProt:P27105
supporting_text: "Regulates ion channel activity and transmembrane ion transport.
Regulates ASIC2 and ASIC3 channel activity."
- reference_id: file:human/STOM/STOM-deep-research-falcon.md
supporting_text: 'model: Edison Scientific Literature'
- term:
id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
evidence_type: IBA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000033
review:
summary: >
Plasma membrane localization is a core characteristic of stomatin, extensively
documented in erythrocytes, platelets, and epithelial cells [PMID:1547348,
PMID:12130500, PMID:9243190].
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Stomatin localizes to the plasma membrane as a lipid-anchored peripheral membrane
protein on the cytoplasmic side. This is a fundamental aspect of its function
as
a membrane microdomain scaffold.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:1547348
supporting_text: "Human red blood cells (RBCs) that are deficient in an
integral membrane-associated protein (\"stomatin\") of apparent molecular
mass 31 Kd show a catastrophic increase in passive membrane permeability
to the univalent cations Na+ and K+ and are stomatocytic in shape."
- reference_id: PMID:12130500
supporting_text: "Stomatin, a major lipid-raft component of erythrocytes
and epithelial cells, is also an abundant platelet protein."
- term:
id: GO:0005856
label: cytoskeleton
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000044
review:
summary: >
Stomatin associates with the cortical actin cytoskeleton according to multiple
studies [PMID:1547348, PMID:9243190, PMID:9642292]. This is supported by
experimental evidence.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Stomatin colocalizes with cortical actin microfilaments at small plasma membrane
protrusions and the protein binds to the cytoskeleton according to detergent
solubilization studies. UniProt notes "Colocalizes with cortical actin
microfilaments at small plasma membrane protrusions" based on PMID:9243190.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:1547348
supporting_text: "Selective solubilization studies using detergents show
that while the protein is strongly associated with the phospholipid bilayer,
it also binds to the cytoskeleton."
- reference_id: PMID:9642292
supporting_text: "There is also evidence that stomatin is linked to the
cortical actin cytoskeleton, suggesting a role in cortical morphogenesis
of the cell."
- term:
id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000120
review:
summary: >
Duplicate plasma membrane annotation via automated IEA. The annotation is
correct
but redundant with other plasma membrane annotations.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Plasma membrane localization is well-established for stomatin. Duplicate annotations
with different evidence codes are acceptable.
- term:
id: GO:0016020
label: membrane
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000002
review:
summary: >
Generic membrane annotation inferred from InterPro domains. This is too broad
given the well-characterized plasma membrane localization.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
While correct (stomatin is a membrane protein), this generic term is subsumed
by
the more specific plasma membrane annotations. It provides minimal additional
information.
- term:
id: GO:0031410
label: cytoplasmic vesicle
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000120
review:
summary: >
Stomatin localizes to cytoplasmic vesicles including alpha granules in platelets
and is released in microvesicles upon platelet activation [PMID:12130500].
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
UniProt notes "Translocates from the alpha-granular lipid rafts to the cell
membrane on thrombin activation and selectively enriched in released microvesicles."
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:12130500
supporting_text: "Activation of platelets by calcium ionophore A23187 or
thrombin led to translocation of stomatin to the plasma membrane, cleavage
by calpain, and specific sorting into released microvesicles."
- term:
id: GO:0042470
label: melanosome
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000044
review:
summary: >
Stomatin was identified by mass spectrometry in melanosome fractions (stages
I-IV)
according to UniProt (PMID:12643545, PMID:17081065).
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Melanosome localization is documented from proteomic studies but represents
a
cell-type specific observation rather than a core function. UniProt states
"Identified by mass spectrometry in melanosome fractions from stage I to stage
IV."
- term:
id: GO:0045121
label: membrane raft
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000044
review:
summary: >
Lipid raft/membrane raft localization is a fundamental characteristic of stomatin
as an SPFH family member. This is strongly supported by experimental evidence
[PMID:12130500, PMID:23219802].
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Stomatin is a major lipid raft component and organizes detergent-resistant
membrane
microdomains. This is central to its function as a membrane scaffold.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:12130500
supporting_text: "Lipid rafts are detergent-resistant, cholesterol- and
sphingolipid-rich membrane domains that are involved in important cellular
processes such as signal transduction and intracellular trafficking."
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:19696025
review:
summary: >
This annotation refers to stomatin interaction with STOML1 (stomatin-like
protein 1).
However, protein binding is an uninformative term that should be replaced
with more
specific molecular function terms.
action: MARK_AS_OVER_ANNOTATED
reason: >
Generic protein binding annotations provide no functional insight. The specific
interaction with STOML1 is better captured through interaction databases.
UniProt
notes "Interacts with STOML1; may redistribute STOM from the plasma membrane
to
late endosomes."
proposed_replacement_terms:
- id: GO:0042802
label: identical protein binding
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:19696025
supporting_text: 2009 Aug 20. Stomatin-like protein-1 interacts with
stomatin and is targeted to late endosomes.
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:23219802
review:
summary: >
This publication demonstrates stomatin interaction with GLUT1/SLC2A1, band
3/SLC4A1,
and aquaporin-1 in human erythrocyte membrane domains. These are functionally
meaningful interactions.
action: MARK_AS_OVER_ANNOTATED
reason: >
The generic protein binding term does not capture the specific scaffold/adaptor
function of stomatin. The interactions with GLUT1, AE1, and AQP1 are better
described through other annotations.
additional_reference_ids:
- PMID:23219802
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:28387307
supporting_text: "The identification, as stomatin partners, of the glucose
transporter (GLUT1), as well as of anion exchanger 1 (AE1) and water channel
aquaporin-1 (AQP1) suggests that stomatin within cholesterol-rich membrane
domains plays a role as a membrane-bound scaffolding protein modulating
transport proteins."
- reference_id: PMID:23219802
supporting_text: Stomatin interacts with GLUT1/SLC2A1, band 3/SLC4A1,
and aquaporin-1 in human erythrocyte membrane domains.
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:25262680
review:
summary: >
This publication identifies stomatin interaction with HCV NS5B RNA polymerase.
This represents a host-pathogen interaction rather than a core molecular function.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
The interaction with viral RNA polymerase is a pathogen exploitation of stomatin's
membrane scaffolding function, not a core physiological role.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:25262680
supporting_text: "In this study, we took a proteomic approach to identify
stomatin, a member of the integral proteins of lipid rafts, as a cellular
protein interacting with HCV NS5B."
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:25416956
review:
summary: >
High-throughput interactome mapping study. Generic protein binding from HTP
data.
action: MARK_AS_OVER_ANNOTATED
reason: >
Large-scale proteomics studies generate many protein binding annotations that
lack functional context. The generic term does not inform on stomatin's actual
molecular function.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:25416956
supporting_text: A proteome-scale map of the human interactome
network.
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:32296183
review:
summary: >
Reference map of human binary protein interactome. Generic protein binding
from
systematic interactome mapping.
action: MARK_AS_OVER_ANNOTATED
reason: >
High-throughput protein interaction data leading to generic protein binding
annotation. The identical protein binding annotation from the same PMID is
more specific and informative.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:32296183
supporting_text: Apr 8. A reference map of the human binary protein
interactome.
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:33961781
review:
summary: >
Dual proteome-scale networks study. Generic protein binding from HTP interactome
data.
action: MARK_AS_OVER_ANNOTATED
reason: >
Large-scale interactome study generating uninformative generic protein binding
annotations.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:33961781
supporting_text: 2021 May 6. Dual proteome-scale networks reveal
cell-specific remodeling of the human interactome.
- term:
id: GO:0042802
label: identical protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:32296183
review:
summary: >
Stomatin forms homo-oligomeric complexes comprising 9-12 monomers as demonstrated
by density gradient centrifugation and co-immunoprecipitation [PMID:9642292].
This self-interaction is essential for its scaffolding function.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Homo-oligomerization is a fundamental property of stomatin required for membrane
microdomain organization. The C-terminus is required for homo-oligomeric interaction.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:9642292
supporting_text: "In this study, we demonstrate that the fundamental structure
of stomatin is oligomeric."
- reference_id: PMID:32296183
supporting_text: Apr 8. A reference map of the human binary protein
interactome.
- term:
id: GO:0005737
label: cytoplasm
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
Stomatin has cytoplasmic domains (both N- and C-termini are cytoplasmic) but
primarily functions at the plasma membrane. The cytoplasmic localization is
not well characterized beyond the membrane-associated pool.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
While stomatin has cytoplasmic exposure, the primary functional localization
is at membrane microdomains. The IEA annotation from Ensembl Compara ortholog
transfer is acceptable but represents a peripheral aspect of localization.
- term:
id: GO:0005739
label: mitochondrion
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
Mitochondrial localization is reported in PMID:25262680 (IDA evidence from
AgBase)
but represents a minor pool. The primary localization is plasma membrane/lipid
rafts.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Mitochondrial localization has experimental support from mass spectrometry
(N-terminome analysis, PMID:25944712) but does not represent the core
functional localization of stomatin.
- term:
id: GO:0008200
label: ion channel inhibitor activity
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
Duplicate of the IBA annotation for ion channel inhibitor activity. Both are
valid and supported by evidence for ASIC modulation.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Ion channel inhibitor activity is a core molecular function of stomatin.
Multiple evidence codes support this annotation.
- term:
id: GO:0034765
label: regulation of monoatomic ion transmembrane transport
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
Stomatin regulates ion transmembrane transport through modulation of ASIC
channels
and effects on the anion exchanger AE1. This process annotation is consistent
with the molecular function annotations.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Regulation of ion transport is a core biological process for stomatin, supported
by evidence showing stomatin modulates AE1 Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity and
ASIC channel activity.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:28387307
supporting_text: "Here we show that stomatin modulates the transport activity
of AE1 through a direct protein-protein interaction."
- term:
id: GO:0042802
label: identical protein binding
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
Duplicate annotation for identical protein binding (homo-oligomerization).
Well-supported by experimental evidence.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Homo-oligomerization is essential for stomatin function and this annotation
is well-supported regardless of evidence code.
- term:
id: GO:0042803
label: protein homodimerization activity
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
Stomatin forms banana-shaped homodimers that further assemble into higher-order
oligomers (9-12 mers) [PMID:9642292]. Crystal structures of mouse stomatin
SPFH domain reveal typical banana-shaped dimers [PMID:28387307].
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Homodimerization is the fundamental structural unit of stomatin oligomers.
This is well-documented and represents a core molecular function.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:28387307
supporting_text: "Crystal structures of a SFPH-domain of mouse stomatin
revealed typical banana-shaped dimers which can further assemble via two
conserved surfaces into a cylindrical oligomer"
- term:
id: GO:0044829
label: host-mediated activation of viral genome replication
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
Stomatin interaction with HCV NS5B stabilizes viral replicase complexes on
detergent-resistant membranes [PMID:25262680]. This is a pathogen exploitation
of stomatin's scaffolding function.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
While experimentally supported, viral genome replication support represents
pathogen exploitation rather than a core physiological function of stomatin.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:25262680
supporting_text: "Our results identify stomatin as a cellular protein that
plays a role in the formation of an enzymatically active HCV RC on a detergent-resistant
membrane structure."
- term:
id: GO:0048471
label: perinuclear region of cytoplasm
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
UniProt notes stomatin localizes to a "juxtanuclear structure probably derived
from the Golgi apparatus" [PMID:9243190]. This perinuclear localization is
consistent with trafficking through the secretory pathway.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Perinuclear localization is observed but represents trafficking/biosynthetic
intermediates rather than the primary functional localization at plasma membrane.
- term:
id: GO:0048524
label: positive regulation of viral process
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
Related to HCV replication support. Stomatin silencing inhibits HCV replication
by releasing NS5B from detergent-resistant membranes [PMID:25262680].
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Viral process regulation is a consequence of stomatin's membrane scaffolding
being exploited by HCV, not a core physiological function.
- term:
id: GO:0090314
label: positive regulation of protein targeting to membrane
evidence_type: IEA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000107
review:
summary: >
This annotation may relate to stomatin's role in organizing membrane protein
complexes and its effects on transporter localization and activity.
action: UNDECIDED
reason: >
The evidence for stomatin specifically regulating protein targeting to membrane
is unclear. Stomatin affects transporter activity but the mechanism may not
involve targeting per se. More evidence needed.
- term:
id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: GO_REF:0000052
review:
summary: >
Plasma membrane localization from immunofluorescence data curation. Well-supported.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Plasma membrane is the primary functional localization of stomatin.
- term:
id: GO:0005515
label: protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:28387307
review:
summary: >
This publication demonstrates stomatin interaction with AE1 (SLC4A1) using
proximity ligation assay and shows stomatin positively regulates AE1 activity.
action: MARK_AS_OVER_ANNOTATED
reason: >
The specific interaction is with SLC4A1/AE1 and the functional outcome is
modulation of anion exchanger activity. The generic protein binding term
is uninformative for describing this specific functional relationship.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:28387307
supporting_text: "In situ Proximity Ligation Assays confirmed an interaction
of AE1 with stomatin, in both HEK recombinant cells and RBCs."
- term:
id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:9642292
review:
summary: >
Stomatin plasma membrane localization demonstrated through immunofluorescence
and biochemical fractionation studies.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Primary localization of stomatin at plasma membrane is well-established.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:9642292
supporting_text: "We have previously shown in the human cell line UAC that
stomatin concentrates preferentially in plasma membrane folds and protrusions."
- term:
id: GO:0042802
label: identical protein binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:9642292
review:
summary: >
This study directly demonstrates stomatin homo-oligomerization using
co-immunoprecipitation and density gradient centrifugation.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Key experimental evidence for stomatin homo-oligomerization. The fundamental
structure of stomatin is oligomeric (9-12 monomers).
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:9642292
supporting_text: "We also show the existence of these oligomers by co-immunoprecipitation
of the endogenous stomatin and a recombinantly expressed myc-tagged stomatin,
using an anti-myc antibody."
- term:
id: GO:0035577
label: azurophil granule membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-6798739
review:
summary: >
Stomatin localizes to neutrophil azurophil granule membranes according to
Reactome annotation for neutrophil degranulation pathway.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Azurophil granule membrane localization in neutrophils is cell-type specific
and represents a peripheral aspect of stomatin localization, not its core
erythrocyte/platelet function.
- term:
id: GO:0035579
label: specific granule membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-6799350
review:
summary: >
Stomatin localizes to neutrophil specific granule membranes according to Reactome.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Neutrophil granule localization is cell-type specific, not core function.
- term:
id: GO:0070821
label: tertiary granule membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-6798747
review:
summary: >
Stomatin localizes to neutrophil tertiary granule membranes according to Reactome.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Neutrophil granule localization is cell-type specific, not core function.
- term:
id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-6798739
review:
summary: >
Plasma membrane localization from Reactome. Redundant with other PM annotations.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Plasma membrane is the primary functional localization of stomatin.
- term:
id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-6798747
review:
summary: >
Plasma membrane localization from Reactome. Redundant with other PM annotations.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Plasma membrane is well-established localization.
- term:
id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
evidence_type: TAS
original_reference_id: Reactome:R-HSA-6799350
review:
summary: >
Plasma membrane localization from Reactome. Redundant with other PM annotations.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Plasma membrane is well-established localization.
- term:
id: GO:0005739
label: mitochondrion
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:25262680
review:
summary: >
Mitochondrial localization detected in the context of HCV infection study.
This may represent a minor pool or context-specific localization.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Mitochondrial localization is not the primary functional location of stomatin.
The plasma membrane/lipid raft localization is the core functional site.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:25262680
supporting_text: Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA
polymerase stabilizes the viral RNA replicase complexes on
detergent-resistant membranes.
- term:
id: GO:0005783
label: endoplasmic reticulum
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:25262680
review:
summary: >
ER localization detected in HCV infection study, likely related to the
association with viral replication complexes on modified ER membranes.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
ER localization may represent biosynthetic trafficking or context-specific
localization during viral infection, not core functional localization.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:25262680
supporting_text: Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA
polymerase stabilizes the viral RNA replicase complexes on
detergent-resistant membranes.
- term:
id: GO:0070063
label: RNA polymerase binding
evidence_type: IPI
original_reference_id: PMID:25262680
review:
summary: >
Stomatin binds HCV NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This is a host-pathogen
interaction, not a normal physiological function.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
RNA polymerase binding specifically refers to interaction with viral RdRp
(HCV NS5B). This represents pathogen exploitation of stomatin's scaffolding
function, not a core cellular function.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:25262680
supporting_text: "In this study, we took a proteomic approach to identify
stomatin, a member of the integral proteins of lipid rafts, as a cellular
protein interacting with HCV NS5B."
- term:
id: GO:0070062
label: extracellular exosome
evidence_type: HDA
original_reference_id: PMID:23533145
review:
summary: >
Stomatin is detected in extracellular exosomes by proteomics. This is
consistent with its release in platelet microvesicles upon activation.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Stomatin is released in microvesicles/exosomes upon cell activation,
documented in platelets [PMID:12130500] and various proteomics studies.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:12130500
supporting_text: "Activation of platelets by calcium ionophore A23187 or
thrombin led to translocation of stomatin to the plasma membrane, cleavage
by calpain, and specific sorting into released microvesicles."
- reference_id: PMID:23533145
supporting_text: 2013 Apr 23. In-depth proteomic analyses of exosomes
isolated from expressed prostatic secretions in urine.
- term:
id: GO:0031982
label: vesicle
evidence_type: HDA
original_reference_id: PMID:19190083
review:
summary: >
Stomatin detected in vesicle fractions from tracheobronchial epithelium proteomics.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Vesicle localization is consistent with stomatin's presence in cytoplasmic
vesicles, granules, and released microvesicles.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:19190083
supporting_text: 'Characterization of exosome-like vesicles released from
human tracheobronchial ciliated epithelium: a possible role in innate
defense.'
- term:
id: GO:0016020
label: membrane
evidence_type: HDA
original_reference_id: PMID:19946888
review:
summary: >
Generic membrane annotation from NK cell membrane proteome study.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Generic membrane term is subsumed by more specific localizations. Acceptable
but not informative.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:19946888
supporting_text: Defining the membrane proteome of NK cells.
- term:
id: GO:0005615
label: extracellular space
evidence_type: HDA
original_reference_id: PMID:16502470
review:
summary: >
Stomatin detected in human colostrum proteomics. May represent secreted/shed
protein in body fluids.
action: KEEP_AS_NON_CORE
reason: >
Extracellular space detection in proteomics studies reflects release via
microvesicles/exosomes rather than a primary secreted function.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:16502470
supporting_text: 'Human colostrum: identification of minor proteins in the
aqueous phase by proteomics.'
- term:
id: GO:0072562
label: blood microparticle
evidence_type: HDA
original_reference_id: PMID:22516433
review:
summary: >
Stomatin detected in blood microparticles, consistent with platelet-derived
microvesicle release.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Blood microparticle localization is consistent with documented stomatin
release in platelet microvesicles upon activation.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:12130500
supporting_text: "Activation of platelets by calcium ionophore A23187 or
thrombin led to translocation of stomatin to the plasma membrane, cleavage
by calpain, and specific sorting into released microvesicles."
- reference_id: PMID:22516433
supporting_text: Epub 2012 Apr 10. Proteomic analysis of microvesicles
from plasma of healthy donors reveals high individual variability.
- term:
id: GO:0070062
label: extracellular exosome
evidence_type: HDA
original_reference_id: PMID:19056867
review:
summary: >
Stomatin detected in urinary exosomes by proteomics.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Exosome localization is consistent with stomatin's membrane association and
release in extracellular vesicles.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:19056867
supporting_text: 2008 Dec 3. Large-scale proteomics and
phosphoproteomics of urinary exosomes.
- term:
id: GO:0070062
label: extracellular exosome
evidence_type: HDA
original_reference_id: PMID:21362503
review:
summary: >
Stomatin detected in trabecular meshwork cell exosomes by proteomics.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Multiple proteomics studies confirm stomatin presence in exosomes from
various cell types.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:21362503
supporting_text: Epub 2011 Mar 8. Protein profile of exosomes from
trabecular meshwork cells.
- term:
id: GO:0005856
label: cytoskeleton
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:1547348
review:
summary: >
This seminal paper establishing stomatin biochemistry shows stomatin binds
to the cytoskeleton based on detergent solubilization studies.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Cytoskeletal association is a core feature of stomatin, linking it to
cortical actin and providing structural basis for membrane organization.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:1547348
supporting_text: "Selective solubilization studies using detergents show
that while the protein is strongly associated with the phospholipid bilayer,
it also binds to the cytoskeleton."
- term:
id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:1547348
review:
summary: >
Plasma membrane localization established in this foundational paper on stomatin.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Primary reference establishing stomatin as a plasma membrane-associated protein
in erythrocytes.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:1547348
supporting_text: "Human red blood cells (RBCs) that are deficient in an
integral membrane-associated protein (\"stomatin\") of apparent molecular
mass 31 Kd show a catastrophic increase in passive membrane permeability
to the univalent cations Na+ and K+ and are stomatocytic in shape."
- term:
id: GO:0045121
label: membrane raft
evidence_type: IDA
original_reference_id: PMID:12130500
review:
summary: >
This key paper establishes stomatin as a major lipid raft component,
demonstrating its association with detergent-resistant membranes in platelets.
action: ACCEPT
reason: >
Lipid raft localization is central to stomatin function as a membrane
microdomain scaffold. This is a core localization.
supported_by:
- reference_id: PMID:12130500
supporting_text: "Stomatin and the flotillins were associated with Triton
X-100-insoluble lipid rafts."
references:
- id: GO_REF:0000002
title: Gene Ontology annotation through association of InterPro records with
GO terms.
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000033
title: Annotation inferences using phylogenetic trees
findings:
- statement: Phylogenetic inference supports ion channel inhibitor
activity for stomatin
- id: GO_REF:0000044
title: Gene Ontology annotation based on UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot Subcellular
Location vocabulary mapping
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000052
title: Gene Ontology annotation based on curation of immunofluorescence data
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000107
title: Automatic transfer of experimentally verified manual GO annotation
data to orthologs using Ensembl Compara.
findings: []
- id: GO_REF:0000120
title: Combined Automated Annotation using Multiple IEA Methods.
findings: []
- id: PMID:1547348
title: Isolation of cDNA coding for an ubiquitous membrane protein deficient
in high Na+, low K+ stomatocytic erythrocytes.
findings:
- statement: Stomatin is an integral membrane protein strongly associated
with the phospholipid bilayer
supporting_text: "Human red blood cells (RBCs) that are deficient in an integral
membrane-associated protein (\"stomatin\") of apparent molecular mass 31
Kd show a catastrophic increase in passive membrane permeability to the
univalent cations Na+ and K+ and are stomatocytic in shape."
- statement: Stomatin also binds to the cytoskeleton
supporting_text: "Selective solubilization studies using detergents show that
while the protein is strongly associated with the phospholipid bilayer,
it also binds to the cytoskeleton."
- statement: Stomatin deficiency causes increased passive membrane
permeability to Na+ and K+
supporting_text: "Human red blood cells (RBCs) that are deficient in an integral
membrane-associated protein (\"stomatin\") of apparent molecular mass 31
Kd show a catastrophic increase in passive membrane permeability to the
univalent cations Na+ and K+ and are stomatocytic in shape."
- statement: Stomatin is inferred to function by closing a latent ion
channel
supporting_text: "By inference, the protein has the function of closing a
latent ion channel."
- id: PMID:9642292
title: Oligomeric nature of the integral membrane protein stomatin.
findings:
- statement: Stomatin fundamental structure is oligomeric
supporting_text: "In this study, we demonstrate that the fundamental structure
of stomatin is oligomeric."
- statement: Stomatin forms homo-oligomeric complexes of 9-12 monomers
supporting_text: "The data indicate that these complexes comprise between
9 and 12 monomers of stomatin."
- statement: C-terminus is required for homo-oligomeric interaction
supporting_text: "Two C-terminally truncated forms of stomatin do not incorporate
into these oligomers, suggesting an involvement of the C terminus in the
homo-oligomeric interaction."
- statement: Stomatin is linked to cortical actin cytoskeleton
supporting_text: "There is also evidence that stomatin is linked to the cortical
actin cytoskeleton, suggesting a role in cortical morphogenesis of the cell."
- id: PMID:12130500
title: Stomatin is a major lipid-raft component of platelet alpha granules.
findings:
- statement: Stomatin is a major lipid raft component
supporting_text: "Stomatin, a major lipid-raft component of erythrocytes and
epithelial cells, is also an abundant platelet protein."
- statement: Stomatin associates with alpha-granular lipid rafts in
platelets
supporting_text: "Microscopical methods and subcellular fractionation showed
that stomatin is located mainly at the alpha-granular membrane."
- statement: Stomatin translocates to plasma membrane and is released in
microvesicles upon activation
supporting_text: "Activation of platelets by calcium ionophore A23187 or thrombin
led to translocation of stomatin to the plasma membrane, cleavage by calpain,
and specific sorting into released microvesicles."
- statement: Stomatin is cleaved by calpain upon activation
supporting_text: "Activation of platelets by calcium ionophore A23187 or thrombin
led to translocation of stomatin to the plasma membrane, cleavage by calpain,
and specific sorting into released microvesicles."
- id: PMID:23219802
title: Stomatin interacts with GLUT1/SLC2A1, band 3/SLC4A1, and aquaporin-1
in human erythrocyte membrane domains.
findings:
- statement: Stomatin interacts with GLUT1, AE1, and AQP1 in erythrocyte
membranes
- statement: Stomatin is part of large membrane protein complexes
- id: PMID:25262680
title: Interaction of stomatin with hepatitis C virus RNA polymerase
stabilizes the viral RNA replicase complexes on detergent-resistant
membranes.
findings:
- statement: Stomatin interacts with HCV NS5B RNA polymerase
supporting_text: "In this study, we took a proteomic approach to identify
stomatin, a member of the integral proteins of lipid rafts, as a cellular
protein interacting with HCV NS5B."
- statement: Stomatin helps form enzymatically active HCV replication
complexes on lipid rafts
supporting_text: "Our results identify stomatin as a cellular protein that
plays a role in the formation of an enzymatically active HCV RC on a detergent-resistant
membrane structure."
- statement: Stomatin silencing inhibits HCV replication
supporting_text: "Stomatin silencing by RNA interference led to the release
of NS5B from the detergent-resistant membrane, thereby inhibiting HCV replication
in both HCV subgenomic replicon-harboring cells and HCVinfected cells."
- id: PMID:28387307
title: Stomatin modulates the activity of the Anion Exchanger 1 (AE1,
SLC4A1).
findings:
- statement: Stomatin positively regulates AE1 Cl-/HCO3- exchange activity
supporting_text: "Here we show that stomatin modulates the transport activity
of AE1 through a direct protein-protein interaction."
- statement: Stomatin-deficient RBCs show 47% decreased permeability to
HCO3- and 42% decreased Cl- efflux
supporting_text: "A significant decrease of 47% could be thus calculated from
the means of these constants"
- statement: Stomatin overexpression increases AE1 activity by 30%
supporting_text: "a significant increase of the AE1 activity (30.3%) was revealed
in cells overexpressing stomatin"
- statement: Stomatin interacts with AE1 through direct protein-protein
interaction
supporting_text: "In situ Proximity Ligation Assays confirmed an interaction
of AE1 with stomatin, in both HEK recombinant cells and RBCs."
- statement: Stomatin likely interacts with dimeric forms of AE1 in the
junctional complex
supporting_text: "the stomatin-actin association is consistent with the binding
of stomatin to the dimeric forms of AE1 within the junctional complex and
not to the tetrameric form in the ankyrin complex."
- id: PMID:19696025
title: Stomatin-like protein-1 interacts with stomatin and is targeted to
late endosomes.
findings: []
- id: PMID:25416956
title: A proteome-scale map of the human interactome network.
findings: []
- id: PMID:32296183
title: A reference map of the human binary protein interactome.
findings: []
- id: PMID:33961781
title: Dual proteome-scale networks reveal cell-specific remodeling of the
human interactome.
findings: []
- id: PMID:23533145
title: In-depth proteomic analyses of exosomes isolated from expressed
prostatic secretions in urine.
findings: []
- id: PMID:19190083
title: "Characterization of exosome-like vesicles released from human tracheobronchial
ciliated epithelium: a possible role in innate defense."
findings: []
- id: PMID:19946888
title: Defining the membrane proteome of NK cells.
findings: []
- id: PMID:16502470
title: "Human colostrum: identification of minor proteins in the aqueous phase
by proteomics."
findings: []
- id: PMID:22516433
title: Proteomic analysis of microvesicles from plasma of healthy donors
reveals high individual variability.
findings: []
- id: PMID:19056867
title: Large-scale proteomics and phosphoproteomics of urinary exosomes.
findings: []
- id: PMID:21362503
title: Protein profile of exosomes from trabecular meshwork cells.
findings: []
- id: Reactome:R-HSA-6798739
title: Exocytosis of azurophil granule membrane proteins
findings: []
- id: Reactome:R-HSA-6798747
title: Exocytosis of tertiary granule membrane proteins
findings: []
- id: Reactome:R-HSA-6799350
title: Exocytosis of specific granule membrane proteins
findings: []
- id: file:human/STOM/STOM-deep-research-falcon.md
title: Deep research report on STOM gene function
findings:
- statement: Stomatin is a membrane microdomain scaffold of the SPFH
family
supporting_text: "Stomatin is best defined as a membrane microdomain scaffold/regulator
rather than an enzyme or classical transporter."
- id: file:human/STOM/STOM-deep-research-cyberian.md
title: Cyberian deep research on STOM function
findings: []
core_functions:
- molecular_function:
id: GO:0008200
label: ion channel inhibitor activity
description: >
Stomatin regulates ASIC2 and ASIC3 channel activity (UniProt annotation based
on
similarity to mouse stomatin). The SPFH family paradigm supports stomatin-domain
proteins as modulators of acid-sensing ion channels in sensory neurons and other
contexts [Carattino & Montalbetti, Am J Physiol-Renal Physiol 2020]. This inhibitory
activity is central to mechanosensation and chemosensation pathways.
locations:
- id: GO:0045121
label: membrane raft
- id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
- molecular_function:
id: GO:0042802
label: identical protein binding
description: >
Stomatin forms homo-oligomeric complexes comprising 9-12 monomers, with the
fundamental unit being a banana-shaped homodimer [PMID:9642292]. Homo-oligomerization
requires the C-terminus and specific residues (Trp-185, Tyr-252, and the
KNSTIVFPLPI motif at positions 263-273). This oligomerization is essential for
membrane microdomain organization and raft association.
locations:
- id: GO:0045121
label: membrane raft
- molecular_function:
id: GO:0042803
label: protein homodimerization activity
description: >
Crystal structures of mouse stomatin SPFH domain reveal banana-shaped dimers
that
further assemble into cylindrical oligomers. The dimer is the fundamental
structural unit of stomatin complexes [PMID:9642292, PMID:28387307].
locations:
- id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
- molecular_function:
id: GO:0008200
label: ion channel inhibitor activity
description: >
Stomatin regulates ion transport through multiple mechanisms including inhibition
of
ASIC channels and positive regulation of AE1 anion exchanger activity -
stomatin-deficient RBCs show 47% decreased HCO3- permeability and 42% decreased
Cl- efflux [PMID:28387307]. The original 1992 paper proposed stomatin functions
by "closing a latent ion channel" [PMID:1547348].
directly_involved_in:
- id: GO:0034765
label: regulation of monoatomic ion transmembrane transport
locations:
- id: GO:0045121
label: membrane raft
- id: GO:0005886
label: plasma membrane
proposed_new_terms: []
suggested_questions:
- question: >
What is the precise mechanism by which stomatin modulates ASIC channel gating?
Is there direct structural interaction or is the effect mediated through
membrane microdomain organization?
- question: >
Does stomatin interact with and modulate Piezo mechanosensitive channels,
given the role of stomatin-like proteins in mechanosensation?
- question: >
What determines whether stomatin activates (AE1) versus inhibits (ASICs)
different transport proteins?
suggested_experiments:
- description: >
Cryo-EM structural analysis of full-length human stomatin oligomers in
nanodiscs or reconstituted lipid bilayers to determine the precise architecture
of membrane-associated complexes.
- description: >
Electrophysiological studies of ASIC channels in stomatin-knockout cells versus
wild-type to quantify the magnitude of stomatin-mediated inhibition and determine
mechanism (gating, trafficking, or surface expression).
- description: >
Proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID/TurboID) in erythroid cells to
comprehensively map the stomatin interactome and identify additional transporter/channel
partners.
status: COMPLETE