Tax modulates cellular processes by protein-protein interaction (binding with proteins), transcriptional activation (promoting the production of proteins) and transcriptional repression (inhibiting the production of proteins).

The former prevents the production of proteins that are normally synthesized in reaction to aldosterone.

It works by entering bacterial cells and interfering with the production of proteins that the bacteria need to divide and multiply.

It has been suggested that increased gene copy number might allow for the mass production of proteins required to meet the metabolic demands of embryogenesis and early development.