May be involved in the negative control of osteogenic differentiation of osteochondrogenic precursor cells in peripheral zones of fetal cartilage and at the cartilage-bone interface. Detected in all tissues tested: heart, liver, kidney, muscle, gonads, brain, ganoid plate, anterior kidney, spleen, spine, cleithrum, head plate, operculum, skull, mandibula, branchial arches, anterior vertebra, and posterior vertebra. Expression is highest in the cartilaginous tissues (skull, mandibula, branchial arches, anterior vertebra and posterior vertebra), with the highest levels found in posterior vertebra. Found in mature and immature chondrocytes within the vertebra and mandibula, and in the chordoblast layer of the notochord in vertebra. Proteolytically cleaved by a furin-like convertase to generate a persistent C-terminal fragment found in almost the entire cartilage matrix, and affecting osteoblast differentiation. Sulfated on tyrosine residues. Belongs to the UCMA family.