May function in cell morphology by maintaining the integrity of the circumferential actin ring and controlling lamellipod formation. Involved in the regulation eye, tooth, brain and craniofacial development. Interacts with the tight junction protein TJP1/ZO-1. Associates with actin-rich structures. Interacts with BRK1 and with all three members of the WAVE protein family, WASF1, WASF2 and WASF3. Colocalizes with the tight junction protein TJP1 in epithelial cells. Localizes to the leading edge of lamellipodia in motile cells. Detected at low levels in all tissues analyzed. Detected in fetal and adult brain, lens, retina, retinal pigment epithelium, placenta, lymphocytes and fibroblasts. Levels in retinal pigment epithelium, placenta, lymphocytes, and fibroblasts are very low. Expressed also in kidney, lung and thymus. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Caused by copy number variations predicted to result in altered transcriptional regulation of the NHS gene: a 0.8 Mb segmental duplication-triplication encompassing the NHS, SCML1 and RAI2 genes, and an 4.8 kb intragenic deletion in NHS intron 1. Belongs to the NHS family.