This gene encodes a protein thought to participate in
programmed cell death. Studies using mouse cells have shown that
overexpression of this protein can block apoptosis. In addition,
the product of this gene binds to the product of the PDCD6 gene, a
protein required for apoptosis, in a calcium-dependent manner. This
gene product also binds to endophilins, proteins that regulate
membrane shape during endocytosis. Overexpression of this gene
product and endophilins results in cytoplasmic vacuolization, which
may be partly responsible for the protection against cell death.
Several alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding
different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by
RefSeq].
