Background:
This gene encodes a protein belonging to the GTP-binding superfamily and to the immuno-associated nucleotide (IAN) subfamily of nucleotide-binding proteins. In humans,the IAN subfamily genes are located in a cluster at 7q36.1. This gene encodes an antiapoptotic protein that functions in T-cell survival. Polymorphisms in this gene are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Read-through transcription exists between this gene and the neighboring upstream GIMAP1 (GTPase,IMAP family member 1) gene.