Required for normal morphology and function of ciliated sensory organs. During embryonic stage 16-17, expressed in accessory cells of all ciliated mechanosensory and chemosensory organs (at protein level). Specifically, detected in the cap cell of chordotonal organs and the shaft cell of external sensory organs (at protein level). Also detected in chemosensory organs including the pharyngeal organs, dorsal organ, terminal organ and ventral organ (at protein level). Expression appears to be temporally restricted to late embryogenesis and is not detected during larval stages (at protein level). Viable and fertile. Larval locomotion is severely uncoordinated and the chemotactic response to sucrose is reduced. Morphology of the lch5 mechanosensory organ is abnormal, with disorganized cilia and neuronal cell bodies, although cilia still make contact with the cap cell.