This gene encodes a protein involved in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis. The GPI-anchor, a glycolipid containing three mannose molecules in its core backbone, is found on many blood cells where it serves to anchor proteins to the cell surface. The encoded protein and another GPI synthesis protein, PIGO, function in the transfer of ethanolaminephosphate to the third mannose in GPI. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].