This gene encodes a member of the Notch family, a group of Type 1 transmembrane proteins with an extracellular domain containing multiple epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats and an intracellular domain with diverse domains. Notch family proteins regulate developmental processes by controlling cell fate decisions through an evolutionarily conserved intercellular signaling pathway. In Drosophila, Notch interacts with ligands (delta, serrate) to regulate development, and similar ligands have been identified in humans, though their interactions with human Notch proteins are not fully understood. This protein is cleaved in the trans-Golgi network and presented as a heterodimer on the cell surface, acting as a receptor for membrane-bound ligands. It may be involved in vascular, renal, and hepatic development. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified.