Involved in the maintenance of both rod and cone photoreceptor cells (PubMed:25398945, PubMed:29100828, PubMed:29899041). Required for photoreceptor-specific localization of proximal connecting cilium (CC) proteins RPGR, AHI1, NPHP1, NPHP4, and RPGRIP1 at the distal CC, a photoreceptor-specific extension of the primary cilium transition zone (PubMed:25398945, PubMed:29100828, PubMed:29899041). Maintenance of protein localization at the photoreceptor-specific distal CC is essential for normal microtubule stability and to prevent photoreceptor degeneration (PubMed:25398945, PubMed:29899041). Found in a complex with CFAP410, NEK1 and SPATA7 (By similarity). Interacts with NEK1 (By similarity). Interacts with RPGRIP1 (PubMed:25398945, PubMed:29899041). Interacts with RPGR (PubMed:29899041). Interacts with NPHP4 (PubMed:29899041). Interacts with NPHP1 (PubMed:29899041). Interacts with AHI1 (PubMed:29899041). Localizes to the microtubule network. Expressed in the retina (at protein level) (PubMed:19268277, PubMed:29100828, PubMed:29899041). Expressed in the choroid region and retinal pigment endothelium, within the photoreceptor layer (at protein level) (PubMed:25398945, PubMed:29100828, PubMed:29899041). Viable and fertile with no gross morphological abnormalities (PubMed:25398945). Knockout mice show severe early-onset retinal defects and progressive photoreceptor cell degeneration (PubMed:25398945). Significant and progressive reduction in response to light, accompanied by progressive thinning of the outer nuclear layer from P15 to 7 months, loss of Spata7-interacting proteins at the distal CC, and destabilization of the photoreceptor distal connecting cilium (CC) microtubule core (PubMed:25398945, PubMed:29899041). Impaired trafficking of photoreceptor proteins between the inner and outer nuclear segments resulting in loss of photoreceptor-specific protein localization at the distal CC (PubMed:25398945). Conditional knockdown of Spata7 in the retina shows an indistinguishable phenotype from knockout mice (PubMed:29100828). Electroretinogram (ERG) recordings show a significant and progressive reduction in response to light under scotopic (dark-adapted) and photopic (light-adapted) conditions (PubMed:29100828). Amplitude of both a-wave and b-wave responses is reduced indicating defects in both rod and cone type photoreceptors (PubMed:29100828).