This gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes the phosphoribosylation of ribose 5-phosphate to 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate, which is necessary for purine metabolism and nucleotide biosynthesis. Defects in this gene are a cause of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase superactivity, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease X-linked recessive type 5 and Arts Syndrome. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2011].