该基因编码属于血管生成素家族的分泌糖蛋白。这个家族的成员在血管发育和血管生成中起着重要的作用。所有的血管生成素都与内皮细胞特异性酪氨酸蛋白激酶受体有相似的亲和力。这个基因编码的蛋白质是一种分泌的糖蛋白，通过诱导其酪氨酸磷酸化激活受体它在介导内皮细胞与周围基质和间充质的相互作用和抑制内皮细胞通透性方面起着关键作用。这种蛋白也有助于血管的成熟和稳定，并可能参与心脏的早期发育。选择性剪接导致编码不同亚型的多个转录变体。[由RefSeq提供，2015年9月]
This gene encodes a secreted glycoprotein that belongs to the angiopoietin family. Members of this family play important roles in vascular development and angiogenesis. All angiopoietins bind with similar affinity to an endothelial cell-specific tyrosine-protein kinase receptor. The protein encoded by this gene is a secreted glycoprotein that activates the receptor by inducing its tyrosine phosphorylation. It plays a critical role in mediating reciprocal interactions between the endothelium and surrounding matrix and mesenchyme and inhibits endothelial permeability. The protein also contributes to blood vessel maturation and stability, and may be involved in early development of the heart. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2015]