A master regulator required for the expression of late competence genes including comC, comE, comG and the bdbDC operon (PubMed:8196543, PubMed:7783616, PubMed:11744713, PubMed:11918817, PubMed:11948146). Receives signals from SrfA, and possibly other regulatory COM genes, and transduces these signals to the late COM genes (PubMed:8196543, PubMed:7783616). Represses transcription of rok (PubMed:11849533). May repress expression of a few genes (PubMed:7783616). Expressed in cells competent for DNA transformation; that is 5-10% of the population (PubMed:11918817). Positively regulates its own expression (PubMed:7783616). Expressed only in glucose-based minimal medium during the transition to stationary phase (PubMed:8196543). Expression is initiated at the time of transition to the post-exponential state, and exclusively in competence-stimulating medium. Repressed by AbrB and Rok (PubMed:11849533). Transformation deficient (PubMed:8196543). Loss of expression of at least 165 genes (PubMed:11918817, PubMed:11948146). Extended N-terminus.