Required for normal chromosome segregation during cell division and genomic stability. May function in recognizing stalled ribosomes and triggering endonucleolytic cleavage of the mRNA, a mechanism to release non-functional ribosomes and degrade damaged mRNAs. May have ribonuclease activity. The N-terminal domain has the RNA-binding Sm fold. It harbors the endoribonuclease activity. Belongs to the eukaryotic release factor 1 family. Pelota subfamily.