The function of SETD7 (SET domain containing 7, histone lysine methyltransferase, ENSG00000145391) is as follows. Histone methyltransferase that specifically monomethylates 'Lys-4' of histone H3 (PubMed:11779497, PubMed:11850410, PubMed:12540855, PubMed:12588998, PubMed:16141209). H3 'Lys-4' methylation represents a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional activation (PubMed:12540855, PubMed:12588998, PubMed:16141209). Plays a central role in the transcriptional activation of genes such as collagenase or insulin (PubMed:12588998, PubMed:16141209). Recruited by IPF1/PDX-1 to the insulin promoter, leading to activate transcription (PubMed:16141209). Also has methyltransferase activity toward non- histone proteins such as CGAS, GLI3, p53/TP53, TAF10, and possibly TAF7 by recognizing and binding the [KR]-[STA]-K in substrate proteins (PubMed:15099517, PubMed:15525938, PubMed:16415881, PubMed:27146893, PubMed:35210392). Monomethylates 'Lys-189' of TAF10, leading to increase the affinity of TAF10 for RNA polymerase II (PubMed:15099517, PubMed:16415881). Monomethylates 'Lys-372' of p53/TP53, stabilizing p53/TP53 and increasing p53/TP53-mediated transcriptional activation (PubMed:15525938, PubMed:16415881, PubMed:17108971). Monomethylates 'Lys-491' of CGAS, promoting interaction between SGF29 and CGAS (By similarity). Acts as a positive regulator of smoothened signaling by mediating methylation of full-length GLI3, increasing GLI3 ability to bind DNA (PubMed:27146893). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q8VHL1, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11779497, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11850410, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12540855, ECO:0000269|PubMed:12588998, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15099517, ECO:0000269|PubMed:15525938, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16141209, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16415881, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17108971, ECO:0000269|PubMed:27146893, ECO:0000269|PubMed:35210392}.