This enzyme functions in the methionine salvage pathway by catalyzing the interconversion of methylthioribose-1-phosphate and methythioribulose-1-phosphate. Elevated expression of the encoded protein is associated with metastatic melanoma and this protein promotes melanoma cell invasion independent of its enzymatic activity. Mutations in this gene may be associated with vanishing white matter disease (VMWD). [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2016].