这个基因编码一个netrin 1受体。跨膜蛋白是细胞粘附分子免疫球蛋白超家族的成员，介导神经元生长锥轴突向netrin 1配体来源的引导。胞质尾与酪氨酸激酶SRC和局灶性粘附激酶（FAK，也称为PTK2）相互作用，介导轴突的吸引。该蛋白部分定位于脂质筏，在没有配体的情况下诱导细胞凋亡。这种蛋白作为肿瘤抑制因子发挥作用，在结直肠癌和食管癌中经常发生突变或下调。
This gene encodes a netrin 1 receptor. The transmembrane protein is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules, and mediates axon guidance of neuronal growth cones towards sources of netrin 1 ligand. The cytoplasmic tail interacts with the tyrosine kinases Src and focal adhesion kinase (FAK, also known as PTK2) to mediate axon attraction. The protein partially localizes to lipid rafts, and induces apoptosis in the absence of ligand. The protein functions as a tumor suppressor, and is frequently mutated or downregulated in colorectal cancer and esophageal carcinoma.