The gene is a member of the large lectin-like type 2 transmembrane receptor family of the natural killer gene complex. The gene is located distantly telomeric to its family's gene cluster on chromosome 6. The gene differs from the other genes in its cluster as its promoter region contains long and short interspersed repetitive elements suggesting a possible rearrangement or gene conversion. It is unknown whether this gene's encoded protein is involved with natural killer cell differentiation as are its other family members. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2010]