This gene encodes a small, conserved protein that participates in red blood cell formation. The encoded protein is localized to the cell membrane and is the antigen for the Vel blood group. Alternative splicing results in different transcript variants that encode the same protein. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2013] see less This gene encodes a small, conserved protein that participates in red blood cell formation. The encoded protein is localized to the cell membrane and is the antigen for the Vel blood group. Alternative splicing results in different transcript variants that encode the same protein. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2013]