Transcriptional regulator. Critical factor essential for ovary differentiation and maintenance, and repression of the genetic program for somatic testis determination. Prevents trans-differentiation of ovary to testis through transcriptional repression of the Sertoli cell-promoting gene SOX9 (By similarity). Has apoptotic activity in ovarian cells. Suppresses ESR1-mediated transcription of PTGS2/COX2 stimulated by tamoxifen (By similarity). Is a regulator of CYP19 expression (By similarity). Participates in SMAD3-dependent transcription of FST via the intronic SMAD-binding element (By similarity). Is a transcriptional repressor of STAR. Activates SIRT1 transcription under cellular stress conditions. Activates transcription of OSR2. Interacts with ESR1 (By similarity). Interacts with SMAD3 (By similarity). Interacts with DDX20. Interacts with UBE2I/UBC9. In addition to its expression in the developing eyelid, it is transcribed very early in somatic cells of the developing gonad (before sex determination) and its expression persists in the follicular cells of the adult ovary. In granulosa-like cells, up-regulated at transcript and protein levels under oxidative stress and heat-shock conditions. Down-regulated by SIRT1. Sumoylated with SUMO1; sumoylation is required for transcriptional repression activity. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. There is a mutational hotspot in the region coding for the poly-Ala domain, since 30% of all mutations in the ORF lead to poly-Ala expansions, resulting mainly in BPES type II. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD)