Cytokine-like nuclear factor with chromatin gene reader activity involved in chromatin modification and regulation of gene expression (PubMed:23260659, PubMed:30970244). Acts as a nucleosome-destabilizing factor that is recruited to genes during transcriptional activation (PubMed:30970244, PubMed:29759984). Recognizes and binds histone H3 without a preference for specific epigenetic markers and also binds DNA (PubMed:20850016, PubMed:30970244). Interacts with KDM1B and promotes its histone demethylase activity by facilitating the capture of H3 tails, they form a multifunctional enzyme complex that modifies transcribed chromatin and facilitates Pol II transcription through nucleosomes (PubMed:23260659, PubMed:30970244, PubMed:29759984). Stimulates the acetylation of 'Lys-56' of nucleosomal histone H3 (H3K56ac) by EP300 (PubMed:29759984). With GATA4, co-binds a defined set of heart development genes and coregulates their expression during cardiomyocyte differentiation (PubMed:35182466). Regulates p38 MAP kinase activity by mediating stress activation of MAPK14/p38alpha and specifically regulating MAPK14 signaling (PubMed:16352664). Indirectly promotes phosphorylation of MAPK14 and activation of ATF2 (PubMed:16352664). The phosphorylation of MAPK14 requires upstream activity of MAP2K4 and MAP2K6 (PubMed:16352664). Homotetramere (PubMed:31408337, PubMed:30970244). Interacts with MAPK14 (PubMed:16352664). Interacts with KDM1B at nucleosomes; this interaction stimulates H3K4me1 and H3K4me2 demethylation (PubMed:23260659). Binds to mononucleosomes (PubMed:29759984). Interacts with GATA4; the interaction is required for a synergistic activation of GATA4 target genes transcription (PubMed:35182466). Found in actively RNAPolII-transcribed gene bodies. The A.T hook DNA-binding domain is required for the interaction with MAPK14. The PWWP domain is a H3 reader and strongly binds DNA. In the dehydrogenase domain, the conserved NAD(P)H-binding sites and sequence similarity to plant dehydrogenases suggest that this protein may have oxidoreductase activity (PubMed:23260659, PubMed:30970244). However, since the active site is not conserved, the dehydrogenase domain seems to serve as a catalytically inert oligomerization module (PubMed:30970244). Belongs to the HIBADH-related family. NP60 subfamily.