The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily, also known as the tetraspanin family. Most of these members are cell-surface proteins that are characterized by the presence of four hydrophobic domains. The proteins mediate signal transduction events that play a role in the regulation of cell development, activation, growth and motility. This encoded protein might couple to signal transduction pathways and possibly modulate cellular activation and adhesion in haemopoietic and neural tissue. Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.