Predicted to enable protein homodimerization activity. Predicted to be involved in cellular response to unfolded protein. Predicted to be part of protein folding chaperone complex. Predicted to be active in cytoplasm and nucleus. Is expressed in several structures, including cephalic musculature; immature eye; midbrain hindbrain boundary neural rod; nervous system; and pericardial region. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease axonal type 2L and autosomal dominant distal hereditary motor neuronopathy 2. Orthologous to human HSPB8 (heat shock protein family B (small) member 8).