This gene encodes a protein that may function in neuron survival, neuron differentiation, and neuritogenesis. These roles may be carried out via activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. Expansion of a pentanucleotide repeat in an intronic region of this locus has been associated with spinocerebellar ataxia, type 10. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been described.[provided by RefSeq, Nov 2009]