CMTM1 belongs to the chemokine-like factor gene superfamily, which NCBI describes as a novel family similar to the chemokine and transmembrane 4 superfamilies of signalling molecules. The encoded protein is a membrane protein, and the NCBI Gene summary indicates that it may play an important role in testicular development. No further molecular function is annotated in the sources used here, so researchers studying the CMTM1 protein will often approach it through its family relationships and expression context.

The CMTM1 gene is a member of the HGNC gene group CKLF like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing. The name reflects the MARVEL transmembrane domain shared by the group and its relationship to chemokine-like factor (CKLF). Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified, which is worth bearing in mind when choosing reagents such as a CMTM1 antibody or planning a CMTM1 ELISA kit based assay.

The locus also shows naturally occurring read-through transcription with the neighbouring CKLF gene, encoding chemokine-like factor. This overlap is a useful consideration when interpreting transcript-level data. Historically the gene was named chemokine-like factor super family 1 (CKLFSF1), and the earlier symbols CKLFH1a and CKLFH still appear in the literature. The current symbol, CMTM1, places it first in the CMTM series that includes CMTM2 to CMTM8.