The POMT1 gene encodes protein O-mannosyltransferase, an enzyme that catalyzes O-mannosylation of proteins, an important protein modification in eukaryotes that is initiated by an evolutionarily conserved family of O-mannosyltransferases. POMT1 shares sequence similarity with protein O-mannosyltransferases of S. cerevisiae. In yeast, these enzymes are located in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and are required for cell integrity and cell wall rigidity. POMT1 also shows similarity to the Drosophila 'rotated abdomen' (rt) gene, which, when mutated, causes defects in myogenesis and muscle structure [from OMIM].