Localized prominently at the taper regions of hair cell stereocilia. Expressed in the sensory epithelia of the organ of Corti and vestibular end organs and, to a lesser extent, in Reisner's membrane and the spiral ligament (at protein level). At postnatal day 2, expression is detected in cochlea, liver, brain, kidney, heart and lung. Belongs to the taperin family. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus. Truncated N-terminus.