Background:
The protein encoded by this gene is a membrane protein that catalyzes the addition of an alkyl group from an akylamine to a glutamine residue of a protein, forming an alkylglutamine in the protein. This protein alkylation leads to crosslinking of proteins and catenation of polyamines to proteins. This gene contains either one or two copies of a 22 nt repeat unit in its 3' UTR. Mutations in this gene have been associated with autosomal recessive lamellar ichthyosis (LI) and nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (NCIE).