It functions as a trimethylation-specific demethylase, converting specific trimethylated histone on histone H3 lysine 9 and 36 residues to the dimethylated form and lysine 9 dimethylated residues to monomethyl, and as a transcriptional repressor.

[13] The expression of this gene is observed in all tissues critical to the female reproductive system, including the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary, oviducts, and uterus, as well as embryonic development.

A knockout of this gene in female mice has shown to negatively interfere with maintaining a maternal uterine environment suitable to receive and implant the blastocyst.

It also interferes in the early embryonic development of the female mice's pups prior to implantation, leading to infertility.

While mechanisms of normal ovulation and fertilization remain unaffected, infertility may also be partly due to decreased levels of Prolactin, a hormone crucial during the process of pregnancy.