The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the GDNF receptor family. It is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-linked cell surface receptor for persephin, and mediates activation of the RET tyrosine kinase receptor. This gene is a candidate gene for RET-associated diseases. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].