Is predicted to encode a protein with the following domains: Hsp20/alpha crystallin family; Alpha crystallin/Hsp20 domain; Alpha crystallin/Small heat shock protein, animal type; and HSP20-like chaperone. Is an ortholog of C. elegans hsp-16.1; hsp-16.11; and hsp-16.2. In C. elegans, hsp-16.1 is involved in defense response to Gram-negative bacterium; endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response; and response to heat.