NBL1 is the founding member of the evolutionarily conserved CAN (Cerberus and DAN) family of proteins, which contain a domain resembling the CTCK (C-terminal cystine knot-like) motif found in a number of signaling molecules. These proteins are secreted, and act as BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) antagonists by binding to BMPs and preventing them from interacting with their receptors. They may thus play an important role during growth and development and alternatively spliced transcript variants have been identified for this gene. Also, as a tumor suppressor gene of neuroblastoma may play an important role in preventing cells from entering the final stage (G1/S) of the transformation process. Read-through transcripts between this locus and the upstream mitochondrial inner membrane organizing system 1 have been observed.