This gene is a member of the echinoderm microtubule associated protein-like family. The encoded WD-repeat protein may be involved in microtubule formation. Abnormal fusion of parts of this gene with portions of the anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase gene, which generates EML4-ALK fusion transcripts, is one of the primary mutations associated with non-small cell lung cancer. Alternative splicing of this gene results in two transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2015].