DNASE1L2 is a 299 amino acid secreted protein that is expressed in brain tissue and shares sequence similarity with DNase I, suggesting a possibly role in DNA hydrolysis. The gene encoding DNASE1L2 maps to human chromosome 16, which encodes over 900 genes and comprises nearly 3% of the human genome. The GAN gene is located on chromosome 16 and, with mutation, may lead to giant axonal neuropathy, a nervous system disorder characterized by increasing malfunction with growth. The rare disorder Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome is also associated with chromosome 16, as is Crohn's disease, which is a gastrointestinal inflammatory condition.