Plays a role in mechanosensory transduction (touch sensitivity). Expressed in embryos and larva (PubMed:12385749). In L2 and L3 stage larva, expressed in the six touch receptor neurons (PubMed:12385749). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in no visible phenotype (PubMed:12385749). RNAi-mediated knockdown enhances the touch-insensitive phenotype (the inability to respond to more than two of four touches) of mec-6 u247ts mutants at 15 degrees Celsius (PubMed:12385749).