Major component of the extracellular matrix of cartilage and may play a role in the formation of extracellular filamentous networks. Can form homooligomers (monomers, dimers, trimers and tetramers) and heterooligomers with matrilin-1. Interacts with COMP (By similarity). Component of a complex containing at least CRELD2, MANF, MATN3 and PDIA4 (PubMed:23956175). Strongly expressed in growing skeletal tissue such as epiphyseal growth plate or in bone undergoing growth and remodeling. In the bone, actively synthesized in osteoblasts and osteocytes. Expressed in cartilage of sternum, femur, vertebrae, trachea, articular and epiphyseal cartilage, cartilage of developing bones and bones. The earliest expression could be detected in a 12.5 dpc embryo in the cartilage anlage of the developing bones. At 14.5 dpc the primordial skeleton shows a strong expression. At birth present in the developing occipital bones, bones of the nasal cavity, manubrium and corpus of sternum as well as in the cartilage plates of trachea. At no stage of development detected in extraskeletal tissues.