這個基因編碼notch家族的一個成員。這種1型跨膜蛋白家族的成員具有相同的結構特征，包括由多個表皮生長因子樣（egf）重復序列組成的胞外結構域和由多個不同結構域類型組成的胞內結構域。notch家族成員通過控制細胞命運決定，在多種發育過程中發揮作用。notch信號網絡是一種進化上保守的細胞間信號通路，它調節物理相鄰細胞之間的相互作用。在果蠅中，notch與其細胞結合配體（delta，serrate）的相互作用建立了一種在發育過程中起關鍵作用的細胞間信號通路。notch配體的同系物在人類中也已被鑒定，但這些配體與人類notch同系物之間的確切相互作用仍有待確定。這種蛋白質在反式高爾基體網絡中被裂解，并以異二聚體的形式出現在細胞表面。這種蛋白作為膜結合配體的受體，可能在血管、腎臟和肝臟的發育中發揮作用。已經發現了兩個編碼不同亞型的轉錄變體。[由RefSeq提供，2011年1月]
This gene encodes a member of the Notch family. Members of this Type 1 transmembrane protein family share structural characteristics including an extracellular domain consisting of multiple epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats, and an intracellular domain consisting of multiple, different domain types. Notch family members play a role in a variety of developmental processes by controlling cell fate decisions. The Notch signaling network is an evolutionarily conserved intercellular signaling pathway which regulates interactions between physically adjacent cells. In Drosophilia, notch interaction with its cell-bound ligands (delta, serrate) establishes an intercellular signaling pathway that plays a key role in development. Homologues of the notch-ligands have also been identified in human, but precise interactions between these ligands and the human notch homologues remain to be determined. This protein is cleaved in the trans-Golgi network, and presented on the cell surface as a heterodimer. This protein functions as a receptor for membrane bound ligands, and may play a role in vascular, renal and hepatic development. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2011]