This gene is located in the surfeit gene cluster, which is comprised of very tightly linked housekeeping genes that do not share sequence similarity. The encoded protein is a conserved integral membrane protein that interacts with endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment proteins. Disruption of this gene results in reduced numbers of endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi intermediate compartment clusters and redistribution of coat protein I to the cytosol. Alternate splicing results in multiple transcript variants.