Transcriptional activator that binds the same DNA consensus sequence as p53 (PubMed:11696333, PubMed:15242600). Has a role in normal development to ensure proper meiotic chromosome segregation (PubMed:11557844, PubMed:12445383). Promotes apoptosis under conditions of cellular and genotoxic stress in response to DNA damage, hypoxia, or starvation (PubMed:11696333, PubMed:11557844, PubMed:12445383, PubMed:15273685, PubMed:17186023, PubMed:18836529, PubMed:21901106). Regulates germline apoptosis in response to DNA damage (PubMed:11696333, PubMed:15273685, PubMed:15707894, PubMed:16319925, PubMed:17276923, PubMed:17186023, PubMed:17347667, PubMed:19015549, PubMed:26598553). Its pro-apoptotic activity is inhibited when bound to ape-1 in vitro (PubMed:12524540). Plays a role in cell cycle arrest in the germline in response to DNA damage by UV-C light (PubMed:17347667). However, not required for survival in response to DNA damage induced by UV-C light, indicating that it is unlikely to be involved in DNA repair (PubMed:17347667). Required for induction of ced-13 in response to DNA damage (PubMed:15605074). Regulates DNA damage-induced apoptosis by inducing transcription of the programmed cell death activator egl-1 (PubMed:12445383, PubMed:19521535). Regulates germline proliferation by activating phg-1 (PubMed:17186023). Negatively regulates lifespan (PubMed:17895432, PubMed:18836529). Binds 1 zinc ion per subunit. Homodimer (PubMed:15707894). Interacts (via C-terminus domain) with prmt-5; not methylated by prmt-5 (PubMed:19521535). Interacts with cbp-1 (via HAT domain); cep-1 transcriptional activity may be inhibited by interaction with methylated cbp-1 (PubMed:19521535). Component of a complex that contains prmt-5 and cbp-1 (PubMed:19521535). Interacts with ape-1; the interaction inhibits pro-apoptotic activity of cep-1 (PubMed:12524540). Expressed in pharyngeal muscle and neurons. Expressed in embryos and larvae (PubMed:11557844, PubMed:15707894). Expressed in the distal zone of mitotic germline and in late pachytene, diplotene and diakinesis stages of meiotic germline (PubMed:11557844, PubMed:15707894, PubMed:21901106). By DNA damage. Phosphorylated in response to IR-induced DNA damage which is thought to be mediated by akt-1. Reduced numbers of germ cell corpses, hypersensitive to the lethal effects of hypoxia, increase in production of males (Him phenotype), decreased lifespan and in extreme cases embryonic lethality (PubMed:11557844, PubMed:11696333, PubMed:15273685, PubMed:17895432, PubMed:19015549, PubMed:26598553). In cep-1 and prmt-5 double mutants, germline cell death and up-regulation of egl-1 mRNA induced by gamma irradiation is prevented (PubMed:19521535). Double RNAi-mediated knockdown together with ape-1 abrogates the increased number of apoptotic germ cells in the ape-1 knockdown model (PubMed:12524540). Belongs to the p53 family.