Component of the velvet transcription factor complex that controls sexual/asexual developmental ratio in response to light, promoting sexual development in the darkness while stimulating asexual sporulation under illumination (PubMed:12223191, PubMed:2253875, PubMed:2076818, PubMed:14665453, PubMed:18556559, PubMed:19210625). The velvet complex acts as a global regulator for secondary metabolite gene expression (PubMed:18556559). Controls the expression of the sterigmatocystin and penicillin gene clusters (PubMed:14665453, PubMed:17375284). Represses the cryptic ors gene cluster producing orsellinic acid and its F9775 derivatives in a laeA-independent manner (PubMed:23841751). Required for full induction of faoA gene expression by fructosyl amines (PubMed:12375102). Positively regulates the expression of the early sexual development gene esdC (PubMed:17977758). Controls the expression of mannoprotein mnpA (PubMed:12620259). Component of the heterotrimeric velvet complex composed of laeA, veA and velB; VeA acting as a bridging protein between laeA and velB (PubMed:18556559). Interacts with the light-sensing phytochrome fphA (PubMed:18291652, PubMed:18936976). Interacts with llmF (PubMed:23341778). Enriched in the nucleus in the dark (PubMed:17163983, PubMed:18556559, PubMed:20816830). Migration to the nucleus depends on the importin alpha carrier protein KapA (PubMed:17163983, PubMed:19318129). Migration to the nucleus is also controled by llmF (PubMed:23341778). Expressed almost constitutively at an increased level throughout the asexual and sexual developmental processes (PubMed:12223191). Negatively regulates its own expression (PubMed:19479257). Expression is derepressed in light-illuminated conditions (PubMed:19479257). Expression is regulated by laeA (PubMed:21152013). Regulates its own expression, depending on its phosphorylation state (PubMed:26564476). The C-terminal PEST domain is a region rich in proline, glutamic acid, serine and threonine residues that is required for the light-dependent regulation of development and secondary metabolism. Phosphorylated at Thr-167, Thr-170, Ser-183 and Tyr-254 (PubMed:26564476). Thr-167 should be phosphorylated and T170 and S183 should be dephosphorylated to achieve light induction of conidiation (PubMed:26564476). Phosphorylation of Ser-183 and Tyr-254 influence sterigmatocystin production in a light-independent manner (PubMed:26564476). Phosphorylation of Thr-167 and Thr-170 modulates expression of veA (PubMed:26564476). Aboshes light-dependent conidiation, allowing conidiation to occur in the dark (PubMed:2076818). Impairs formation of sexual structures, even under conditions where sexual development preferentially occurs (PubMed:12223191). Alters the expression of the transcription factors nsdD, steA and brlA, the penicillin biosynthetic genes ipnA and acvA, as well as of the sterigmatocystin-specific regulatory gene aflR (PubMed:14665453). Belongs to the velvet family. VeA subfamily.