This gene encodes a protein that is similar to Maf1, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein highly conserved in eukaryotic cells. Yeast Maf1 is a negative effector of RNA polymerase III (Pol III). It responds to changes in the cellular environment and represses pol III transcription. Biochemical studies identified the initiation factor TFIIIB as a target for Maf1-dependent repression. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].