This gene is located within the Prader-Willi Syndrome critical region on chromosome 15. Transcripts produced from this gene initiate at an imprinting center and are paternally-imprinted. These transcripts may be bicistronic and also encode SNRPN (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide N) from a downstream open reading frame. The small protein represented by this gene is encoded by an evolutionarily-conserved upstream open reading frame and is localized to the nucleus. Extensive alternative splicing and promoter usage occurs in this region and the full-length nature of some of these transcripts has not been determined. Alterations in the imprinting center are associated with parental imprint switch failure, which may cause Angelman syndrome or Prader-Willi syndrome. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2017].