Family members encode integral membrane proteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion.

It plays an essential role in maintenance of normal retinal and cochlear function.

[7] It is thought to interact with CDH23 to form tip-link filaments.

[8] Mutations in this gene have been associated with hearing loss, which is consistent with its location at the Usher syndrome type 1F (USH1F) critical region on chromosome 10.

[7] Variation within it has also been found to be associated with normal differences in human facial appearance.