Automated description from the Alliance of Genome Resources (Release 7.0.0)
Enables DNA-binding transcription activator activity, RNA polymerase II-specific; RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding activity; and chromatin DNA binding activity. Involved in several processes, including nervous system development; regulation of DNA-templated transcription; and visual perception. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including nervous system development; neural crest cell differentiation; and nodal signaling pathway. Located in cytoplasm and nucleus. Is expressed in several structures, including alimentary system; central nervous system; embryo mesenchyme; eye; and neural ectoderm. Used to study holoprosencephaly 5 and schizophrenia. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in holoprosencephaly and holoprosencephaly 5. Orthologous to human ZIC2 (Zic family member 2).