The protein encoded by this gene is a cis-Golgi transmembrane protein that may be necessary for the long-term survival of nociceptive and autonomic ganglion neurons. Mutations in this gene are a cause of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IIB (HSAN IIB), and this gene may also play a role in susceptibility to vascular dementia. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2011].