The protein encoded by this gene is a cellular protein that binds RNAs containing the G-rich element. The protein is localized in the cytoplasm, and has been shown to stimulate translation of viral mRNAs in vitro. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. Regulator of post-transcriptional mitochondrial gene expression, required for assembly of the mitochondrial ribosome and for recruitment of mRNA and lncRNA. Binds RNAs containing the 14 base G-rich element. Preferentially binds RNAs transcribed from three contiguous genes on the light strand of mtDNA, the ND6 mRNA, and the long non-coding RNAs for MT-CYB and MT-ND5, each of which contains multiple consensus binding sequences. Involved in the degradosome-mediated decay of non-coding mitochondrial transcripts (MT-ncRNA) and tRNA-like molecules. Acts by unwinding G-quadruplex RNA structures in MT-ncRNA, thus facilitating their degradation by the degradosome. G-quadruplexes (G4) are non-canonical 4 stranded structures formed by transcripts from the light strand of mtDNA.