The protein encoded by this gene is a key component of an mRNA-decapping complex required for degradation of mRNAs, both in normal mRNA turnover, and in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). It removes the 7-methyl guanine cap structure from mRNA, prior to its degradation from the 5' end. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been noted for this gene.[provided by RefSeq, Jun 2011].