chp protein is abnormallly distributed in chp mutants. In chp¹, levels of protein are reduced along the axons in larvae and pupae. In chp², little or no protein is detected in third instar larval eye disc, in pupa, or in adult retina.

Normally chp RNA is expressed uniformly throughout photoreceptor cell soma. In chp¹ and chp² mutants, expression is graded and decreases with distance from the nucleus.