C1q and tumor necrosis factor related protein 5

This gene encodes a member of a family of proteins that function as components of basement membranes and may play a role in cell adhesion. Mutations in this gene have been associated with late-onset retinal degeneration. The protein may be encoded by either a bicistronic transcript including sequence from the upstream membrane frizzled-related protein gene (MFRP), or by a monocistronic transcript expressed from an internal promoter. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2013]