The recognition of complex carbohydrate structures on glycoproteins is an important part of several biological processes，including cell-cell recognition，serum glycoprotein turnover，and neutralization of pathogens. The protein encoded by this gene is a type I membrane receptor that mediates the endocytosis of glycoproteins by macrophages. The protein has been shown to bind high-mannose structures on the surface of potentially pathogenic viruses，bacteria，and fungi so that they can be neutralized by phagocytic engulfment. This gene is in close proximity to MRC1L1. The gene loci including this gene，MRC1L1，as well as LOC340843 and LOC340893，consist of two nearly identical，tandemly linked genomic regions，which are thought to be a part of a duplicated region. [provided by RefSeq].