This gene encodes a protein that plays a role in actin nucleation, Golgi membrane association and microtubule binding. The encoded protein is a nucleation-promoting factor that regulates the Actin-related protein 2/3 complex. The activated complex initiates growth of new actin filaments by binding to existing actin filaments. The encoded protein also functions in regulation of transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex and in maintenance of the Golgi complex near the centrosome. Four pseudogenes of this gene are present on the same arm of chromosome 15 as this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2013].