Functions in tapetum development during early meiosis. May play a role in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane in the early stages of tapetum development in anthers. Seems to function after MSP1 and before UDT1. During anther development highly expressed in tapetal cells at stages 6 and 7, and at lower levels in the pollen mother cells and meiocytes. Male sterility due to abnormal formation of the tapetum and development of pollen mother cells arrested at the early stages of meiotic prophase I. Belongs to the SPCS1 family.