The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the cyclin family. Through its interaction with several proteins, such as RNA polymerase II, splicing factors, and cyclin-dependent kinases, this protein functions as a regulator of the pre-mRNA splicing process, as well as in inducing apoptosis by modulating the expression of apoptotic and antiapoptotic proteins. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2011].