This gene encodes a cell cycle checkpoint protein. The encoded protein binds to translation and initiation factors and functions as a regulator of mitotic translation. In response to DNA damage this protein plays a role in preventing DNA errors during mitosis.This gene product belongs to the 14-3-3 family of proteins which mediate signal transduction by binding to phosphoserine-containing proteins. This highly conserved protein family is found in both plants and mammals, and this protein is 99% identical to the mouse and rat orthologs. This gene is upregulated in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. It contains in its 5' UTR a 6 bp tandem repeat sequence which is polymorphic, however, there is no correlation between the repeat number and the disease.