Transcription factor which acts as a transcriptional repressor (By similarity). May also function as a transcriptional activator (By similarity). Binds to the palindromic T site 5'-TTCACACCTAGGTGTGAA-3' DNA sequence, or a half-site, which are present in the regulatory region of several genes (By similarity). Binds DNA as a monomer. Expressed ventrally in early gastrulae (stage 10.5) and is expressed most strongly in the outer layer of ectodermal cells. At the late gastrula stage (stage 12), expression appears to be up-regulated consistently in a small group of cells clustered around the ventral edge of the closing blastopore. At the early neurula stage (stage 13), four regions of ectodermal expression are clearly detected. At stage 19 (late neurula), expression persists in the cement gland, the ventral epidermis, the proctodeal region, the lens placodes, and in a broad placodal area caudal to the eye anlagen. In addition, expression also detected in the dorsal root ganglia of the future spinal cord. At stage 21/22, expression seen in a wishbone-shaped group of cells situated dorsal and caudal to each developing optic vesicle corresponding to the cranial (profundal and trigeminal) ganglia. Expression persists in these cells through tail bud and into early tadpole stages. From stage 21/22 onward, the bilateral expression in the ectodermal placodes becomes restricted primarily to the otic placode and the developing otic vesicles. At stage 24, also observed in the precursors of the hypaxial muscles and the pronephric duct in the trunk, in the developing branchial arches and in the primordium of the heart. In stage 29 embryos, expression detected in the frontonasal process and continues to be expressed in the same regions of the embryo at stage 33, although its expression becomes clearly regionalized in the looping heart. A higher level of expression seen in the ventricle as compared with the atrium.