This gene encodes a mitochondrial protein involved in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) signaling. This protein also plays a role in the import of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial proteins into the mitochondrial matrix and may be important in reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Mutations in this gene cause Megarbane-Dagher-Melike type spondylometaphyseal dysplasia, an early lethal skeletal dysplasia characterized by short stature, developmental delay and other skeletal abnormalities.