This gene encodes a member of the M13 family, which includes type 2 integral membrane metallopeptidases. The encoded enzyme is a membrane-bound zinc-dependent metalloprotease. The enzyme catalyzes the cleavage of big endothelin to produce the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1, and plays a role in the processing of several neuroendocrine peptides. It may also have methyltransferase activity. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2013].