Plays a role in primary cilia formation (PubMed:26365339). May act as a downstream effector of HOXC8 possibly by transducing or transmitting extracellular information required for axial skeletal patterning during development (By similarity). May be involved in cartilage and bone development (By similarity). May play a role in the differentiation of cranial neural crest cells (By similarity). ; (Microbial infection) In case of infection, may act as a fusion receptor for cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD169.