Background
This gene encodes the 72 kDa subunit of the signal recognition particle (SRP), a ribonucleoprotein complex that;mediates the targeting of secretory proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The SRP complex consists of a 7S RNA;and 6 protein subunits: SRP9, SRP14, SRP19, SRP54, SRP68, and SRP72, that are bound to the 7S RNA as monomers or;heterodimers. SRP has at least 3 distinct functions that can be associated with the protein subunits: signal;recognition, translational arrest, and ER membrane targeting by interaction with the docking protein. Mutations in;this gene are associated with familial bone marrow failure. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding;different isoforms have been found for this gene.