Plays a role in the regulation of cell morphology and cytoskeletal organization. Expressed at higher level in heart, skeletal muscle, kidney and liver. The 3'-UTR region of the mRNA encoding this protein contains a motif called CDIR (for cell death inhibiting RNA) that binds HNRPD/AUF1 and HSPB1/HSP27. It is able to inhibit interferon-gamma induced apoptosis.