This gene encodes an arginyltransferase, an enzyme that is involved in posttranslational conjugation of arginine to N-terminal aspartate or glutamate residues. Conjugation of arginine to the N-terminal aspartate or glutamate targets proteins for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. Alternative splicing results in two transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
Hu, Wang, Xia, Varshavsky: "The N-end rule pathway is a sensor of heme." in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 105, Issue 1, pp. 76-81, (2008) (PubMed).