Essential for embryonic kidney development. Plays an important role in the compact adhesion between mesenchymal cells adjacent to the ureteric buds; possibly by interacting with MYH10. This could lead to the establishment of the basolateral integrity of the mesenchyme and the polarized expression of ITGA8; which maintains the GDNF expression required for further ureteric bud attraction. Although it seems to lack ATPase activity it is constitutively associated with microtubules. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:20439720; ECO:0000269|PubMed:22768111}.