This gene encodes the homolog of the Drosophila melanogaster Nipped-B gene product and fungal Scc2-type sister chromatid cohesion proteins. The Drosophila protein facilitates enhancer-promoter communication of remote enhancers and plays a role in developmental regulation. It is also homologous to a family of chromosomal adherins with broad roles in sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome condensation, and DNA repair. The human protein has a bipartite nuclear targeting sequence and a putative HEAT repeat. Condensins, cohesins and other complexes with chromosome-related functions also contain HEAT repeats. Mutations in this gene result in Cornelia de Lange syndrome, a disorder characterized by dysmorphic facial features, growth delay, limb reduction defects, and cognitive disability. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.