This gene encodes a protein similar to the RAS effector
proteins. Loss or altered expression of this gene has been
associated with the pathogenesis of a variety of cancers, which
suggests the tumor suppressor function of this gene. The
inactivation of this gene was found to be correlated with the
hypermethylation of its CpG-island promoter region. The encoded
protein was found to interact with DNA repair protein XPA. The
protein was also shown to inhibit the accumulation of cyclin D1,
and thus induce cell cycle arrest. Seven alternatively spliced
transcript variants of this gene encoding distinct isoforms have
been reported.
