Predicted to enable actin binding activity and structural molecule activity. Involved in several processes, including adult somatic muscle development; cell adhesion involved in heart morphogenesis; and neurogenesis. Located in plasma membrane and smooth septate junction. Is expressed in several structures, including epidermis; epithelial cell; gut section; imaginal disc; and internal sense organ. Used to study inflammatory bowel disease. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in autosomal dominant intellectual developmental disorder 11; esophagus squamous cell carcinoma; and hereditary elliptocytosis. Orthologous to several human genes including EPB41 (erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1) and EPB41L1 (erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1 like 1).