Putative oxidoreductase. Acts as a tumor suppressor and plays a role in apoptosis. May function synergistically with p53/TP53 to control genotoxic stress-induced cell death. Plays a role in TGFB1 signaling and TGFB1-mediated cell death. Inhibits Wnt signaling, probably by sequestering DVL2 in the cytoplasm (By similarity). May also play a role in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated cell death. Required for normal bone development. Interacts with TP53, TP73/p73 and MAPK8. Interacts with MAPT/TAU. Forms a ternary complex with TP53 and MDM2 and interacts with ERBB4, LITAF and WBP1. May interact with FAM189B and SCOTIN (By similarity). Interacts with HYAL2 and RUNX2. Interacts with TNK2 (By similarity). Interacts with TMEM207 (By similarity). Partially localizes to the mitochondria (By similarity). Translocates to the nucleus in response to TGFB1 (PubMed:19366691). Translocates to the nucleus upon genotoxic stress or TNF stimulation (PubMed:11058590). Ubiquitous. In the brain, expressed in cortex, striatum, hippocampus and cerebellum (at protein level). Detected in embryonic skeleton, in cranofacial bones, vertebrae and limb bones. Detected in chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Expression starts at 8 dpc in the developing heart. Higher expression in the brain is detected between 12 dpc and 16 dpc. High levels of expression in dorsal root ganglia and spinal nerves were observed throughout all developmental stages. In later developmental stages expression is more prominent in skeletal systems (at protein level). By hyaluronidase. Up-regulated in outer and inner nuclear layers during retinal degeneration. The WW 1 domain mediates interaction with TP73, TFAP2C, LITAF, WBP1 and probably TP53. Phosphorylated upon genotoxic stress. Phosphorylation of Tyr-33 regulates interaction with TP53, TP73 and MAPK8. May also regulate proapoptotic activity. Phosphorylation by TNK2 is associated with polyubiquitination and degradation (By similarity). Ubiquitinated when phosphorylated by TNK2, leading to its degradation. Indistinguishable from wild-type at birth, but die after three weeks due to metabolic syndrome characterized by serum hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypotriglyceridemia and hypocholesterolemia, growth retardation, decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption. In addition, spontaneous tumor development was observed. Belongs to the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR) family.