This gene encodes a member of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain) family. Members of this family are membrane-anchored proteins structurally related to snake venom disintegrins and have been implicated in a variety of biological processes involving cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, including fertilization, muscle development, and neurogenesis. This member is a type I transmembrane protein and serves as a marker for dendritic cell differentiation. It has been demonstrated to be an active metalloproteinase, which may be involved in normal physiological processes such as cell migration, cell adhesion, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, and signal transduction. It is proposed to play a role in pathological processes, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases, renal diseases, and Alzheimer's disease.