Cell adhesion molecule involved in the establishment and/or maintenance of cell integrity. Involved in the formation and regulation of the tight junction (TJ) paracellular permeability barrier in epithelial cells . Plays a role in VAMP3-mediated vesicular transport and recycling of different receptor molecules through its interaction with VAMP3. Plays a role in the regulation of cell shape and movement by modulating the Rho-family GTPase activity through its interaction with ARHGEF25/GEFT. Induces primordial adhesive contact and aggregation of epithelial cells in a Ca(2+)-independent manner. Also involved in striated muscle regeneration and repair and in the regulation of cell spreading (By similarity). Important for the maintenance of cardiac function. Plays a regulatory function in heart rate dynamics mediated, at least in part, through cAMP-binding and, probably, by increasing cell surface expression of the potassium channel KCNK2 and enhancing current density . Is also a caveolae-associated protein important for the preservation of caveolae structural and functional integrity as well as for heart protection against ischemia injury.
Subcellular locations: Lateral cell membrane, Cell junction, Tight junction, Membrane, Cell membrane, Sarcolemma, Membrane, Caveola
Colocalizes with VAMP3 at the cell-cell contact in cardiac and skeletal muscle (By similarity). Its movement from the cytoplasm to membrane is an early event occurring concurrently with cell-cell contact. Colocalizes in epithelial cells with OCLN and TJP1 in an apical-lateral position within the z axis. Detected at cell-cell contact but never observed at the free surface of epithelial cells.
Expressed in epithelial cells (at protein level). Expressed in fetal and adult heart and skeletal muscle.