May play a role in intercellular signaling and in connecting cells with the extracellular matrix. May take part in the regulation of cell motility, growth and differentiation. Binds hyaluronic acid. Interacts with FBLN1. Additional isoforms seem to exist. Expressed in the retina (at protein level) (PubMed:29777959). Cerebral white matter and plasma (PubMed:2469524). Isoform V0: Expressed in normal brain, gliomas, medulloblastomas, schwannomas, neurofibromas, and meningiomas (PubMed:8627343). Isoform V1: Expressed in normal brain, gliomas, medulloblastomas, schwannomas, neurofibromas, and meningiomas (PubMed:8627343). Isoform V2: Restricted to normal brain and gliomas (PubMed:8627343). Isoform V3: Found in all these tissues except medulloblastomas (PubMed:8627343). Expressed in developing photoreceptors and the interphotoreceptor matrix between 12 and 17 weeks post conception (at protein level) (PubMed:29777959). Disappears in aorta after the cartilage development (PubMed:7921538). Phosphorylated by FAM20C in the extracellular medium. Proteolytically cleaved by ADAMTS5 and ADAMTS15 in the pericellular matrix surrounding myoblasts, facilitating myoblast contact and fusion which is required for skeletal muscle development and regeneration. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The pathological mechanism involves a quantitative imbalance of the normally occurring splice variants (PubMed:22739342). Belongs to the aggrecan/versican proteoglycan family. Versican