Mediates the post-translational oxidative deamination of lysine residues on target proteins leading to the formation of deaminated lysine (allysine). When secreted in extracellular matrix, promotes cross-linking of extracellular matrix proteins by mediating oxidative deamination of peptidyl lysine residues in precursors to fibrous collagen and elastin. Acts as a regulator of sprouting angiogenesis, probably via collagen IV scaffolding. When nuclear, acts as a transcription corepressor and specifically mediates deamination of trimethylated 'Lys-4' of histone H3 (H3K4me3), a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional activation. Involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) via interaction with SNAI1 and participates in repression of E-cadherin, probably by mediating deamination of histone H3. Also involved in E-cadherin repression following hypoxia, a hallmark of epithelial to mesenchymal transition believed to amplify tumor aggressiveness, suggesting that it may play a role in tumor progression. Acts as a regulator of chondrocyte differentiation, probably by regulating expression of factors that control chondrocyte differentiation.

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