This family of proteins are found in eukaryotes. These proteins have an important role to play in developmental biology, particularly embryogenesis. It plays an important role in cell survival and axial pattern [1]. It is also thought to be a crucial subunit in the tRNA splicing ligase complex[2]. Proteins in this family are typically between 141 and 232 amino acids in length. There are two conserved sequence motifs: HPE and PQR.

1: Novel gene ashwin functions in Xenopus cell survival and anteroposterior patterning. Patil SS, Alexander TB, Uzman JA, Lou CH, Gohil H, Sater AK; Dev Dyn. 2006;235:1895-1907. PMID:16680723

2: HSPC117 is the essential subunit of a human tRNA splicing ligase complex. Popow J, Englert M, Weitzer S, Schleiffer A, Mierzwa B, Mechtler K, Trowitzsch S, Will CL, Luhrmann R, Soll D, Martinez J; Science. 2011;331:760-764. PMID:21311021