這個基因編碼bmp（骨形態發生蛋白）拮抗劑家族的一個成員。和BMP一樣，BMP拮抗劑含有胱氨酸結，通常形成同型和異型二聚體。bmp拮抗劑的c an（cerberus和dan）亞家族是該基因所屬的一個亞家族，其特征是具有八元環的c-末端胱氨酸結。由該基因編碼的分泌糖基化蛋白的拮抗作用可能與其與bmp蛋白直接結合有關。作為bmp的拮抗劑，該基因可能在調節器官發生、體形形成和組織分化中發揮作用。在小鼠中，這種蛋白已經被證明在肢芽生長過程中將聲刺猬（shh）信號從極化區傳遞到頂端外胚層脊。另外，已經發現該基因編碼不同亞型的剪接轉錄變體。[由RefSeq提供，2010年7月]
This gene encodes a member of the BMP (bone morphogenic protein) antagonist family. Like BMPs, BMP antagonists contain cystine knots and typically form homo- and heterodimers. The CAN (cerberus and dan) subfamily of BMP antagonists, to which this gene belongs, is characterized by a C-terminal cystine knot with an eight-membered ring. The antagonistic effect of the secreted glycosylated protein encoded by this gene is likely due to its direct binding to BMP proteins. As an antagonist of BMP, this gene may play a role in regulating organogenesis, body patterning, and tissue differentiation. In mouse, this protein has been shown to relay the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signal from the polarizing region to the apical ectodermal ridge during limb bud outgrowth. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2010]