Part of the yhjR-bcsQABZC operon (PubMed:19400787, PubMed:24097954), it is expressed about 5-fold higher than bcsQ (when the latter has a restored reading frame) (PubMed:24097954). Expressed in mid-log phase, expression increases dramatically as cells enter stationary phase, the increase is dependent on rpoS (PubMed:24097954). Not required for cellulose synthesis in strain 1094 (PubMed:19400787). When disrupted in a cellulose-synthesizing strain (W3110 derivative with a functional bcsQ gene), cellulose is no longer made. Cellulose production is abolished in E.coli K12 / MG1655 and W3110 due to a premature stop codon in bcsQ (PubMed:24097954).