Automated description from the Alliance of Genome Resources (Release 7.0.0)
Involved in epithelial cell morphogenesis; establishment of epithelial cell apical/basal polarity involved in camera-type eye morphogenesis; and lens development in camera-type eye. Acts upstream of or within actin filament organization; cell-cell adhesion; and establishment or maintenance of cell polarity. Located in cell junction; filopodium; and lamellipodium. Is active in apical plasma membrane. Is expressed in several structures, including alimentary system; central nervous system; embryo ectoderm; embryo mesenchyme; and sensory organ. Used to study facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and nephrotic syndrome. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in colorectal cancer; esophagus squamous cell carcinoma; lung non-small cell carcinoma; lung small cell carcinoma; and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Orthologous to human FAT1 (FAT atypical cadherin 1).