Cell adhesion molecule that plays a role in neuronal self-avoidance. Promotes repulsion between specific neuronal processes of either the same cell or the same subtype of cells. Mediates within retinal amacrine and ganglion cell subtypes both isoneuronal self-avoidance for creating an orderly dendritic arborization and heteroneuronal self-avoidance to maintain the mosaic spacing between amacrine and ganglion cell bodies (PubMed:10925149). Receptor for netrin required for axon guidance independently of and in collaboration with the receptor DCC. Might also collaborate with UNC5C in NTN1-mediated axon repulsion independently of DCC (By similarity). In spinal cord development plays a role in guiding commissural axons projection and pathfinding across the ventral midline to reach the floor plate upon ligand binding (PubMed:18585357, PubMed:19196994). Enhances netrin-induced phosphorylation of PAK1 and FYN (PubMed:15169762). Mediates intracellular signaling by stimulating the activation of MAPK8 and MAP kinase p38 (PubMed:18585357, PubMed:19196994). Adhesion molecule that promotes lamina-specific synaptic connections in the retina: expressed in specific subsets of interneurons and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and promotes synaptic connectivity via homophilic interactions (By similarity). Homodimer; mediates homophilic interactions to promote cell adhesion (By similarity). Interacts with DCC; the interaction is abolished in response to NTN1 (By similarity). Interacts (via extracellular domain) with NTN1 (PubMed:19196994). Probably found in a ternary complex composed of DSCAM, PAK1 and RAC1 (PubMed:15169762). Interacts (via cytoplasmic domain) with PAK1; the interaction is direct and enhanced in presence of RAC1 (PubMed:15169762). Interacts with RAC1; the interaction requires PAK1 (PubMed:15169762). Interacts (via extracellular domain) with UNC5C (via Ig-like C2-type domain) (PubMed:22685302). Interacts with PTK2 (By similarity). Interacts with FYN (By similarity). Localized in the soma, cell membrane, axon and growth cone of dissociated commissural axons. Primarily expressed in brain. Ig-like C2-type domains 7 to 9 are sufficient for interaction with NTN1 and commissural axon outgrowth. The transmembrane domain is necessary for interaction with DCC (By similarity). Phosphorylated at tyrosine residues. Phosphorylation is enhanced by NTN1.