This gene encodes a member of the E1-like ubiquitin-activating enzyme family. This protein activates ubiquitin-fold modifier 1, a ubiquitin-like post-translational modifier protein, via the formation of a high-energy thioester bond. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. A pseudogene of this gene has been identified on chromosome 1. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2016].