May be involved in assembly of the ESX-1 / type VII specialized secretion system (T7SS), which exports several proteins including EsxA and EsxB (By similarity). Involved in DNA conjugation in recipient (MKD8) but not donor (mc(2)155) strain (PubMed:18554329). Loss of DNA conjugation when disrupted in recipient strain, no effect when disrupted in donor strain (PubMed:18554329). The recipient strain secretes reduced amounts of EsxB (PubMed:18554329). 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.