Transcription activator involved in oxidative stress response and cadmium resistance. Regulates the transcription of genes overrepresented for the function of stabilizing proteins including the inducible Hsp90-family protein HSP82. Preferentially binds to promoters with the core binding site 5'-TTA[CG]TAA-3'. Activity of the transcription factor is controlled through oxidation of specific cysteine residues resulting in the alteration of its subcellular location. Activation by alkyl hydroperoxides or cadmium induces nuclear accumulation and as a result CAD1/YAP2 transcriptional activity. Homodimer; disulfide-linked, upon oxidation (Probable). Interacts in the nucleus with the nuclear export protein CRM1 (PubMed:17187783). Interacts with RCK1 (PubMed:15341652). Oxidized CAD1/YAP2 is found predominantly in the nucleus, while reduced CAD1/YAP2 is continuously exported to the cytoplasm by CRM1/exportin 1. CAD1/YAP2 expression is at least partially regulated at the level of mRNA stability. Two small upstream open reading frames (uORF) in its mRNA cause increased RNA decay. The translation initiation factor eIF2 counteracts this effect by causing reinitiation at the functional initiation site, thus suppressing RNA decay. Contains a C-terminal cysteine rich domain (c-CRD), but lacks the N-terminal CRD (n-CRD) found in its paralog YAP1. It probably also contains embedded in the c-CRD a nuclear export signal, with which the nuclear export protein CRM1/exportin 1 may interact in the absence of inter- or intramolecular disulfide bonds (or otherwise oxidized/modified cysteines) within the c-CRD. Depending on the oxidative stress inducing agent, CAD1/YAP2 can undergo two distinct conformational changes, both through oxidation of cysteine residues, and both masking the nuclear export signal, thus abolishing nuclear export by CRM1/exportin 1. Peroxide stress induces the formation of possible intramolecular disulfide bonds as well as intermolcular disulfide within a homodimer. Cadmium may bind directly to specific cysteine residues (Cys-391 and either Cys-356 or Cys-387) in the c-CRD. Hypersensitive to the cytotoxic metal cadmium. One of 8 closely related fungi-specific YAP proteins (YAP1 to YAP8), which all seem to be transcription activators of the environmental stress response and metabolism control pathways and to have similar but not identical DNA binding specificities. Present with 623 molecules/cell in log phase SD medium. Belongs to the bZIP family. YAP subfamily.