Transcription factor that has both positive and negative roles on transcription (By similarity). Plays a role in cellular pluripotency. Essential for germ cell development at 2 levels: the reacquisition of potential pluripotency, including SOX2 up-regulation, and successful epigenetic reprogramming, characterized by EHMT1 repression. Its association with CBFA2T2 is required for the functions in pluripotency and germ cell formation. Interacts with CBFA2T2. Restricted to embryonic stem cells and primordial germ cells. Not detected in epiblast-derived stem cells. At 3.5 dpc, weak and transient expression in the inner cell mass cells of blastocysts. This expression disappears by 5.5 dpc. Expression starts again in committed PGCs around 6.5 dpc in the extraembryonic mesoderm contiguous from the most proximal epiblast (at protein level). Expression persists specifically in PGCs until about 13.5-14.5 dpc both in females and males. Mutant mice are born with an expected Mendelian ratio and looked grossly normal. However, both females and males are sterile, ovaries and testes being completely devoid of germ cells. Belongs to the class V-like SAM-binding methyltransferase superfamily.