Predicted to enable chaperone binding activity. Involved in several processes, including astrocyte activation involved in immune response; positive regulation of cellular component organization; and regulation of defense response. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including blastocyst hatching; locomotory exploration behavior; and lysosomal protein catabolic process. Located in several cellular components, including endoplasmic reticulum; lysosome; and trans-Golgi network. Is expressed in several structures, including early conceptus; gonad; integument; nervous system; and placenta. Used to study Grn-related frontotemporal lobar degeneration with Tdp43 inclusions and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in dementia (multiple); neurodegenerative disease (multiple); neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 11; and primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Orthologous to human GRN (granulin precursor). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]