This gene encodes a nucleolar protein involved in cell cycle regulation and proliferation. This gene was identified based on sequence similarity to a highly conserved Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene encoding a pre-ribosomal protein, which is involved in large ribosomal subunit biogenesis. The encoded protein is found at elevated levels in diabetic nephropathy. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. Several related pseudogenes have been identified. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2012]