This gene encodes a protein containing a death domain (DD) motif. This protein recruits caspase 2/ICH1 to the cell death signal transduction complex, which includes tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1A) and RIPK1/RIP kinase, and acts in promoting apoptosis. A mutation in this gene was associated with mental retardation. A related pseudogene is found on chromosome 3. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2016].