[5] It is a member of the DOCK-D subfamily of the DOCK family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors that function as activators of small G-proteins.

[6] Subsequent northern blot analysis revealed that Dock9 is expressed primarily in the brain, heart, skeletal muscle, kidney, placenta and lung.

Lower levels were detected in the colon, thymus, liver, small intestine and in leukocytes from peripheral blood.

[8][9] Dock9 has also been reported to dimerise, under resting conditions, via its DHR2 domains and this study suggests that other DOCK family proteins may also behave in the same way.

[10] Recent analysis of a chromosomal region associated with susceptibility to bipolar disorder revealed that single nucleotide polymorphisms in the DOCK9 gene contribute to the risk and severity of this condition.