This nuclear gene encodes a conserved protein that comprises the B13 subunit of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The encoded protein localizes to the inner mitochondrial membrane, where it is thought to aid in the transfer of electrons from NADH to ubiquinone. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. There are numerous pseudogenes of this gene on chromosomes 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 16.