May be involved in assembly of the ESX-1 / type VII specialized secretion system (T7SS), which exports several proteins including EsxA and EsxB (PubMed:22233444). Involved in DNA conjugation in recipient (MKD8) strain (PubMed:22233444). Localizes at or near the cell pole (usually the old or non-septal cell pole) in (on average) 1 discrete spot that also colocalizes with EspE and EccCb1 (PubMed:22233444). Localization occurs in the absence of the ESX-1 locus (PubMed:22233444). Secretes greatly reduced amounts of EsxB, protein is synthesized intracellularly (PubMed:22233444). In single deletion mutant EccCb1 only rarely localizes near the cell pole, while disruption of the probable saeA-saeB-saeC operon completely blocks polar localization of EccCb1 (PubMed:22233444). Loss of DNA conjugation when disrupted in recipient strain (MKD8) (PubMed:22233444). DNA conjugation in M.smegmatis is unidirectional with distinct donor and recipient strains; mc(2)155 is a donor strain while MKD8 is a recipient strain. Mutations in a donor strain that alter DNA transfer do not always alter DNA transfer in a recipient strain.