This gene belongs to the MAP kinase superfamily. The gene was found to be regulated by caudal type transcription factor 2 (Cdx2) protein. The encoded protein, which is localized to epithelial cells in the intestinal crypt, may play a role in growth arrest and differentiation of cells of upper crypt and lower villus regions. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2012].