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 (By similarity). Receptor for netrin required for axon guidance independently of and in collaboration with the receptor DCC (By similarity). 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 (PubMed:18216854). Homodimer; mediates homophilic interactions to promote cell adhesion. Localized in the soma, cell membrane, axon and growth cone of dissociated commissural axons. SDK1, SDK2, DSCAM and DSCAML1 are expressed in non-overlapping subsets of interneurons and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that form synapses in distinct inner plexiform layer (IPL) sublaminae (PubMed:18216854).