The protein encoded by this gene is part of a protease found in mitochondria. This protease is ATP-dependent and targets specific proteins for degradation. The protease consists of two heptameric rings of the CLPP catalytic subunit sandwiched between two hexameric rings of the chaperone subunit encoded by this gene. Targeted proteins are unwound by this protein and then passed on to the CLPP subunit for degradation. Two transcript variants, one protein-coding and the other non-protein coding, have been found for this gene.