The protein encoded by this gene, which localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum, catalyzes intramembrane proteolysis of some signal peptides after they have been cleaved from a preprotein. This activity is required to generate signal sequence-derived human lymphocyte antigen-E epitopes that are recognized by the immune system, and to process hepatitis C virus core protein. The encoded protein is an integral membrane protein with sequence motifs characteristic of the presenilin-type aspartic proteases. Multiple transcript variants encoding several different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].