This gene encodes a transmembrane protein that is essential for the formation of adherens junctions. It is required for both the pre-implantation morphogenesis of a blastocyst and for the implantation process. The encoded protein is also a component of the ankle-link complex in cochlear hair cells, where it may effect resilience to sound trauma. It is also thought to be involved in dendritic spine morphogenesis. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2015]