This gene encodes a subunit of the signal recognition particle (SRP). The SRP is a ribonucleoprotein complex that transports secreted and membrane proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum for processing. The complex includes a 7S RNA and six protein subunits. The encoded protein is the 68kDa component of the SRP, and forms a heterodimer with the 72kDa subunit that is required for SRP function. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene, and three pseudogenes of this gene are located within the Smith-Magenis syndrome region on chromosome 17. [provided by RefSeq, May 2012].