Enables 1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme activity and carbohydrate binding activity. Involved in glycogen biosynthetic process and negative regulation of neuron apoptotic process. Located in cytoplasm. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in glycogen storage disease IV and pulmonary tuberculosis. Orthologous to human GBE1 (1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzyme 1). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]