This gene belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily, and the junctional adhesion molecule (JAM) family. The protein encoded by this gene is a type I membrane protein that is localized at the tight junctions of both epithelial and endothelial cells. It acts as an adhesive ligand for interacting with a variety of immune cell types, and may play a role in lymphocyte homing to secondary lymphoid organs. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been found for this gene.