Component of intercellular desmosome junctions. Plays a role in stratified epithelial integrity and cell-cell adhesion by promoting desmosome assembly. Plays a role as an effector in the TP53-dependent apoptotic pathway. Plays a role as an effector in the TP53-dependent apoptotic pathway. Associated with desmosomes. Expressed in the stratified squamous skin epithelium of the skin and the tongue, but not in simple epithelia (at protein level). Expressed in apoptotic cells. Expressed in developing skin during and after the stratification process from 9.5 to 15.5 dpc (at protein level). Expressed in ectoderm of the developing branchial arches and limb buds from the 9.5 to 10.5 dpc. Expressed in epithelia of the oral mucosa and skin from the 16.5 to 18.5 dpc. Up-regulated by UV irradiation, doxorubicin (DOX) and TP53 in embryo fibroblasts. Deficient mice exhibit postnatal lethality and defects in stratified epithelia. Belongs to the TMEM47 family.