Acts as a tumor suppressor in many tumor types, induces growth arrest or apoptosis depending on the physiological circumstances and cell type. Involved in cell cycle regulation as a trans-activator that acts to negatively regulate cell division by controlling a set of genes required for this process. One of the activated genes is an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases. Apoptosis induction seems to be mediated either by stimulation of BAX and FAS antigen expression, or by repression of Bcl-2 expression. Implicated in Notch signaling cross-over. Lin T, et al. (2005) Nat Cell Biol, 7(2): 165-71. Vega FM, et al. (2004) Mol Cell Biol, 24(23): 10366-80. Li J, et al. (2004) J Biol Chem, 279(40): 41275-9. Wang J, et al. (2004) J Biol Chem, 279(38): 39584-92.