Involved in cell wall organization and biosynthesis. Confers cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH). Covalently-linked GPI-modified cell wall protein (GPI-CWP). The GPI-anchor is attached to the protein in the endoplasmic reticulum and serves to target the protein to the cell surface. There, the glucosamine-inositol phospholipid moiety is cleaved off and the GPI-modified mannoprotein is covalently attached via its lipidless GPI glycan remnant to the 1,6-beta-glucan of the outer cell wall layer. Half of the downstream region (residues 1035 to 1713) of the AWA1 gene was lost in the nonfoaming strain K701 due to a chromosomal recombination event. Responsible for the thick foam layer formation on the sake mash during the fermentation process. 'Awa' means 'foam' in Japanese. Belongs to the SRP1/TIP1 family. Of froth and haze - Issue 78 of January 2007