Predicted to enable copper ion binding activity; hormone activity; and iron ion transmembrane transporter inhibitor activity. Involved in several processes, including cellular response to X-ray; cellular response to cytokine stimulus; and cellular response to lipid. Located in apical cortex; extracellular space; and intercalated disc. Used to study anemia and hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomarker of several diseases, including anemia (multiple); end stage renal disease; extrahepatic cholestasis; iron deficiency anemia; and liver disease (multiple). Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in hemochromatosis; hemochromatosis type 2B; and hepatocellular carcinoma. Orthologous to human HAMP (hepcidin antimicrobial peptide). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]