The protein encoded by this gene is a negatively-charged serum glycoprotein that is synthesized by hepatocytes. The encoded protein consists of two polypeptide chains, which are both cleaved from a proprotein encoded from a single mRNA. It is involved in several processes, including endocytosis, brain development, and the formation of bone tissue. Defects in this gene are a cause of susceptibility to leanness. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2017]
