This gene encodes a member of the DnaJ family of proteins, which act as heat shock protein 70 cochaperones. Heat shock proteins facilitate protein folding, trafficking, prevention of aggregation, and proteolytic degradation. Members of this family are characterized by a highly conserved N-terminal J domain, a glycine/phenylalanine-rich region, four CxxCxGxG zinc finger repeats, and a C-terminal substrate-binding domain. The J domain mediates the interaction with heat shock protein 70 to recruit substrates and regulate ATP hydrolysis activity. In humans, this gene has been implicated in positive regulation of virus replication through co-option by the influenza A virus. Several pseudogenes of this gene are found on other chromosomes.
