This protein forms part of a contractile injection system [1]. Photorhabdus virulence cassette (PVC) represents one group of extracellular CISs that are present in both bacteria and archaea [1]. This entry include Pvc16. This family of proteins is found in bacteria and archaea. Proteins in this family are typically between 190 and 320 amino acids in length. This domain alone in Pvc16 is able to produce PVC particles with normal length but without the outer sheath, indicating the main function of this N-terminal domain in terminating the tube growth [1].

1: Cryo-EM Structure and Assembly of an Extracellular Contractile Injection System. Jiang F, Li N, Wang X, Cheng J, Huang Y, Yang Y, Yang J, Cai B, Wang YP, Jin Q, Gao N; Cell. 2019;177:370-383. PMID:30905475