Transcriptional regulator that acts as a mediator of the integrated stress response (ISR) through transcriptional control of protein homeostasis under conditions of ER stress (PubMed:33384352). Controls the outcome of the unfolded protein response (UPR) which is an ER-stress response pathway (PubMed:33384352). ER stress induces QRICH1 translation by a ribosome translation re-initiation mechanism in response to EIF2S1/eIF-2-alpha phosphorylation, and stress-induced QRICH1 regulates a transcriptional program associated with protein translation, protein secretion-mediated proteotoxicity and cell death during the terminal UPR (PubMed:33384352). May cooperate with ATF4 transcription factor signaling to regulate ER homeostasis which is critical for cell viability (PubMed:33384352). Up-regulates CASP3/caspase-3 activity in epithelial cells under ER stress. Central regulator of proteotoxicity associated with ER stress-mediated inflammatory diseases in the intestines and liver (PubMed:33384352). Involved in chondrocyte hypertrophy, a process required for normal longitudinal bone growth (PubMed:30281152).