Transcriptional repressor. Inhibits myogenesis. Plays a role in progenitor cells which differentiate into ductal and acinar, but not myoepithelial, cell lineages in the salivary glands. Involved in the functions of the microvillar cells and Bowman's glands and probably, in a non-cell-autonomous manner, in the development or regeneration of a complete olfactory epithelium (OE). . This is the function of ASCL3 (achaete-scute family bHLH transcription factor 3, ENSG00000176009).