This gene encodes a threonine synthase-like protein. A similar enzyme in mouse can catalyze the degradation of O-phospho-homoserine to a-ketobutyrate, phosphate, and ammonia. This protein also has phospho-lyase activity on both gamma and beta phosphorylated substrates. In mouse an alternatively spliced form of this protein has been shown to act as a cytokine and can induce the production of the inflammatory cytokine IL6 in osteoblasts. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2011].