The protein encoded by this gene belongs to the ARF-like (ADP ribosylation factor-like) sub-family of the ARF family of GTP-binding proteins which are involved in regulation of intracellular traffic. Mutations in this gene are associated with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants of this gene. A vision-specific transcript encoding a different protein has been described (PMID: 20333246).