egl-27 encodes, along with lin-40, one of two C. elegans homologs of human MTA1 (metastasis-associated protein), part of a nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation (NURD) complex; in conjunction with its paralog egr-1, egl-27 is required for proper organization in all parts of the embryo, and for the embryonic expression of hlh-8; egl-27 activity is also required for transdifferentiation of the Y rectal cell to the PDA neuron during larval development; EGL-27 acts downstream of DAF-2 and recognizes the GATA/DAE (DAF-16-associated element) promoter motif of DAF-16 target genes; together with DAF-16 it promotes developmental growth in response to DNA damage.
Enables RNA polymerase II-specific DNA-binding transcription factor binding activity; chromatin binding activity; and enzyme binding activity. Involved in several processes, including egg-laying behavior; hemidesmosome assembly; and nematode male tail tip morphogenesis. Located in nucleus. Expressed in several structures, including Y cell; intestinal cell; neurons; pharynx; and somatic gonad precursor. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy and schizophrenia. Is an ortholog of human RERE (arginine-glutamic acid dipeptide repeats).