This gene encodes a serine/arginine-rich (SR) protein. SR proteins play important roles in pre-mRNA splicing by facilitating the recognition and selection of splice sites. The encoded protein associates with the 25S U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP, a major component of the U2-type spiceosome. The expression of this gene may be altered in cells infected with the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) retrovirus. A pseudogene of this gene is located on the long arm of chromosome 5. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2011].