This gene encodes a putative sodium-dependent amino-acid/proton antiporter. The protein has eleven transmembrane domains, an extracellular N-terminus and an intracellular C-terminal tail. The protein is a member of the SLC38 sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporter family of proteins. Mutations in this gene result in foveal hypoplasia with or without optic nerve misrouting and/or anterior segment dysgenesis. [provided by RefSeq, May 2014].