This gene encodes a member of the intermediate filament family which contains an N-terminal head domain, followed by a central coiled-coil region and a short C-terminal tail. The protein is highly expressed in skeletal and cardiac muscle. The protein links the dystrophin associated protein complex (DAPC) to desmin filaments in muscle and may have a structural role in striated muscle. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jun 2009]