This gene encodes an enzyme involved in fatty acid biosynthesis, primarily the synthesis of oleic acid. The protein belongs to the fatty acid desaturase family and is an integral membrane protein located in the endoplasmic reticulum. Transcripts of approximately 3.9 and 5.2 kb, differing only by alternative polyadenlyation signals, have been detected. A gene encoding a similar enzyme is located on chromosome 4 and a pseudogene of this gene is located on chromosome 17.