Plays a role in alae formation and subsequent cuticle attachment in adults. Only expressed in adults. RNAi-mediated knockdown results in cuticle defects in adults, where the external and internal cuticle under the alae are detached (PubMed:15936343). In addition, alae are present, but they are shallower and often have two or four ridges rather than the three in adult wild-type animals (PubMed:15936343).