Is required for meiosis completion in both male and female germ cells. Confers stability to numerous meiotic mRNAs in gonads allowing proper initiation and progression into meiosis prophase I. The function may involve YTHDC2 and is independent of induction by retinoic acid (RA). Maintains an extended meiotic prophase I by properly promoting the transition from a mitotic to a meiotic cell cycle program by binding transcripts through its interaction with YTHDC2 that regulate the mitotic cell cycle (PubMed:28380054). Interacts with YTHDC2; binds transcripts that regulate the mitotic cell cycle inhibiting progression into metaphase, thereby allowing meiotic prophase to proceed normally (PubMed:26742488, PubMed:28380054, PubMed:29033321). at late pachytene a fraction is nuclear. Expressed specifically in fetal ovary and postnatal and adult testes (at protein level) (PubMed:26742488). In adult testis expressed in spermatocytes, beginning in preleptotene and extending through most stages of meiotic prophase I, including leptotene, zygotene, and pachytene (PubMed:28380054). In the ovary appears at 13.5 dpc and disappears shortly after. In postnatal testes, expression increases between 5 and 10 dpp and is maintained through adulthood. In male and female germal cells present from preleptotene to diplotene stages of meiosis prophase I. Normal growth but mice are fully infertile with barely detectable ovaries and testes at adulthood. Complete absence of follicles in the ovaries and spermatozoon in the seminiferous tubules and epidymides. In testis, approximately 60% of the tubules contain spermatocytes arrested early in meiosis prophase I, the rest contains only spermatogonia. Testes completely lack postmeiotic germ cells, and are depleted for meiotic germ cells. In some individuals, germ cells does not progress past preleptotene, while in others, germ cells advanced to the zygotene stage of meiotic prophase (PubMed:28380054).