Required for proper function of the glomerular filtration barrier. It is involved in the maintenance of a stable podocyte architecture with interdigitating foot processes connected by specialized cell-cell junctions, known as the slit diaphragm . It is a signaling protein that needs the presence of TEC kinases to fully trans-activate the transcription factor AP-1 (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane
Predominantly located at podocyte slit diaphragm.
Abundantly expressed in kidney. Specifically expressed in podocytes of kidney glomeruli.