Constitutes one of the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases that mediate monoubiquitination of 'Lys-119' of histone H2A, thereby playing a central role in histone code and gene regulation. H2A 'Lys-119' ubiquitination gives a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional repression and participates in X chromosome inactivation of female mammals. Essential component of a Polycomb group (PcG) multiprotein PRC1-like complex, a complex class required to maintain the transcriptionally repressive state of many genes, including Hox genes, throughout development. PcG PRC1 complex acts via chromatin remodeling and modification of histones, rendering chromatin heritably changed in its expressibility. Compared to RNF2/RING2, it does not have the main E3 ubiquitin ligase activity on histone H2A, and it may rather act as a modulator of RNF2/RING2 activity. . This is the function of RING1 (ring finger protein 1, ENSG00000204227).