This gene encodes a double-stranded-RNA-specific adenosine deaminase that is involved in editing pre-mRNAs by site-specific conversion of adenosine (A) to inosine (I). Substrates for this enzyme include ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluR2-6) and serotonin receptor (5HT2C). Studies in rodents have shown that this protein can modify its own pre-mRNA by A->I editing to create a novel acceptor splice site, alternative splicing to which results in down regulation of its protein expression. Additional splicing events result in transcript variants encoding different isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]