A probable RNA chaperone. Forms a complex with KhpB which presumably binds to about 170 cellular RNAs (mRNA, tRNA intergenic RNA and sRNAs); the proteins alone each bind the same set of RNAs. A mutation in this gene suppresses the requirement for PBP2b (penA, a transpeptidase) in peripheral peptidoglycan (PG) synthesis. Probably plays a role in PG homeostasis and regulating peripheral PG synthesis