Peroxisome-associated protein required to protect auditory hair cells against noise-induced damage (PubMed:26544938, PubMed:30936319). Acts by regulating noise-induced peroxisome proliferation in auditory hair cells and neurons, and promoting autophagic degradation of damaged peroxisomes (pexophagy) (PubMed:26544938, PubMed:30936319). Noise overexposure increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, causing oxidative damage to auditory hair cells and resulting in hearing loss (PubMed:30936319). PJVK acts as a ROS sensor that recruits the autophagy machinery to trigger pexophagy of peroxisomes damaged by oxidative stress (PubMed:30936319). In addition to pexophagy, also required to promote peroxisome proliferation in response to sound overstimulation (PubMed:26544938, PubMed:30936319). Interacts with MAP1LC3B; interaction is direct (PubMed:30936319). Interacts with IQGAP1 (PubMed:28089576). Interacts with ROCK2 (PubMed:28089576). Interacts with TRIOBP (PubMed:28209736). Associates with the peroxisomal membrane; it is unclear whether it is embedded or just associated with the peroxisomal membrane (PubMed:26544938). Localizes to ciliary rootlet (PubMed:28209736). In ear, it is detected in the organ of Corti and the spiral ganglion within the cochlea in the sensory areas of the vestibule (cristae ampullares of the semicircular ducts, and maculae of the saccule and utricle) and in the first 3 relays (cochlear nuclei, superior olivary complex and inferior colliculus) of the afferent auditory pathway (PubMed:16804542). Detected in hair cells of the cochlea and vestibule but not in neurons (PubMed:17329413, PubMed:28089576). In the afferent auditory pathway, it is present in the cell bodies of neurons but not in fiber bundles such as the trapezoid body in the brainstem (PubMed:16804542). Also detected in spiral ganglion cells, which form the auditory nerve and project to the cochlear nuclei in the brainstem (PubMed:16804542). Also present in the cochlear nuclei, the superior olive and the inferior colliculus (at protein level) (PubMed:16804542). Expressed in all the adult organs tested: brain, eye, inner ear, heart, lung, kidney, liver, intestine, testis and weakly in skeletal muscle (PubMed:16804542). By noise exposure. Mice display progressive hearing loss caused by hypervulnerability to sound exposure (PubMed:17329413, PubMed:26544938). Cochleas display features of marked oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant defenses, and peroxisomes in hair cells show structural abnormalities after the onset of hearing (PubMed:26544938). Mice with conditional deletion in all sensory hair cells show auditory phenotypes with early-onset profound hearing loss and outer hair cell degeneration (PubMed:28089576, PubMed:28209736). Mice with conditional deletion in outer hair cells show auditory phenotypes with early-onset profound hearing loss (PubMed:28089576). Conditional deletion in adult outer hair cells causes a slowly progressive hearing loss associated with outer hair cells degeneration and delayed loss of inner hair cells (PubMed:28089576). Belongs to the gasdermin family.