This gene encodes a member of the tyrosine phosphatase family of proteins and exhibits dual specificity by dephosphorylating tyrosine as well as serine and threonine residues. This gene has been described as both a tumor suppressor and an oncogene depending on the cellular context. This protein may regulate neuronal proliferation and has been implicated in the progression of glioblastoma through its ability to dephosphorylate the p53 tumor suppressor. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2015].