This gene encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed to generate multiple protein products. These products include the cardiac natriuretic peptides CNP-53, CNP-29 and CNP-22, which belong to the natriuretic family of peptides. The encoded peptides exhibit vasorelaxation activity in laboratory animals and elevated levels of CNP-22 have been observed in the plasma of chronic heart failure patients. [From RefSeq]