The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the methionyl aminopeptidase family. The encoded protein functions both by protecting the alpha subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 from inhibitory phosphorylation and by removing the amino-terminal methionine residue from nascent proteins. Increased expression of this gene is associated with various forms of cancer, and the anti-cancer drugs fumagillin and ovalicin inhibit the protein by irreversibly binding to its active site. Inhibitors of this gene have also been shown to be effective for the treatment of obesity. A pseudogene of this gene is located on chromosome 2. Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.