Has a role as neurotrophic factor involved in neuronal survival and neurobiological functions. Mainly expressed in different brain regions, including cortex, amygdala and hippocampus (at protein level) (PubMed:30137205). Expressed by neurons and astrocytes (PubMed:30137205). Expressed as early as 13.5 dpc, increases and peaks at 2 weeks after birth and is highly expressed until adulthood. Mutant mice grow and develop normally but exhibit impairments in spatial learning and memory and impairments in short- and long-term memory, accompanied with increased level of anxiety-like behaviors in open-field test. They also show decreased level of depression-like behaviors in forced-swim test and tail-suspension test (PubMed:30137205). They show neuronal loss, defects in dendritic and synaptic morphology, and apoptosis in the brain (PubMed:30137205). Belongs to the TAFA family. Extended N-terminus.