Plays a role during embryonic arterial endothelium differentiation and vascular morphogenesis through the ACVRL1 receptor-dependent signaling pathway upon stimulation by bone morphogenetic proteins, such as GDF2/BMP9 and BMP10. Involved in the regulation of nociception, acting as a modulator of the interaction between TRPA1 and TRPV1, two molecular sensors and mediators of pain signals in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons. Mechanistically, it weakens their interaction, thereby releasing the inhibition of TRPA1 by TRPV1 and increasing the single-channel open probability of the TRPA1-TRPV1 complex.
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane, Membrane, Perikaryon, Cytoplasm, Perinuclear region, Endoplasmic reticulum
Colocalized with HSPA5 in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Enriched in ER microsome. Colocalized with BMP4 in neural cell bodies and neural fibers of the enteric nervous system.
Expressed in neurons of the myenteric and submucosal plexuses in the gastric body, jejunum and proximal colon. Expressed in arterial endothelial cells and neurons of the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. Expressed in umbilical artery endothelial cells (at protein level).