Has a role in transcriptional regulation. Acts in parallel with the Ras/MAPK and the PI3K/PKB pathways in the control of cell identity and cellular growth. Essential for regulation of the cytoskeleton and cell growth but not for cell proliferation or growth rate. Required specifically for the microtubule-based basal transport of lipid droplets. Plays a partially redundant function downstream of Raf in cell fate specification in the developing eye. Pair-rule protein that regulates embryonic cellularization, gastrulation and segmentation. Component of the super elongation complex (SEC), at least composed of Ell, Cdk9, cyclin-T (CycT), lilli and ear. Associates to transcriptionally active chromatin. Expressed both maternally and zygotically. Embryos lacking maternal lilli show specific defects in the establishment of a functional cytoskeleton during cellularization, and exhibit a pair-rule segmentation phenotype. Adults lacking lilli exhibit reduction in cell and organ size and partial suppression of the increased growth associated with loss of PTEN function. Belongs to the AF4 family. Truncated N-terminus.