Enables calcium ion binding activity. Involved in several processes, including chondroblast differentiation; response to acidic pH; and response to glucose. Located in several cellular components, including extracellular space; neuronal cell body; and perineuronal net. Used to study degenerative disc disease. Biomarker of congestive heart failure; degenerative disc disease; osteoarthritis; and status epilepticus. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia Kimberley type. Orthologous to human ACAN (aggrecan). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]