The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the BCL2 protein family. BCL2 family members form hetero- or homodimers and act as anti- or pro-apoptotic regulators that are involved in a wide variety of cellular activities. Overexpression of this gene has been shown to induce apoptosis in cells. Three alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding two distinct isoforms have been reported for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, May 2009].