SIII, also known as elongin, is a general transcription elongation factor that increases the RNA polymerase II transcription elongation past template-encoded arresting sites. Subunit A is transcriptionally active and its transcription activity is strongly enhanced by binding to the dimeric complex of the SIII regulatory subunits B and C (elongin BC complex) (By similarity). In embryonic stem cells, the elongin BC complex is recruited by EPOP to Polycomb group (PcG) target genes in order generate genomic region that display both active and repressive chromatin properties, an important feature of pluripotent stem cells (PubMed:27863225, PubMed:27863226).

The elongin BC complex seems to be involved as an adapter protein in the proteasomal degradation of target proteins via different E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes, including the von Hippel-Lindau ubiquitination complex CBC(VHL). By binding to BC-box motifs it seems to link target recruitment subunits, like VHL and members of the SOCS box family, to Cullin/RBX1 modules that activate E2 ubiquitination enzymes.