The exact function of this gene is not known. It encodes a protein with a DALR anticodon binding domain similar to that of class Ia aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. This gene is located in a cluster of genes (with a complex sense-anti-sense genome architecture) on chromosome 3, and contains two micro RNA (miRNA) precursors (mir-425 and mir-191) in one of its introns. Preferential expression of this gene (the miRNAs and other genes in the cluster) in testis suggests a role of this gene in spermatogenesis (PMID:19906709).