Cold-inducible mRNA binding protein. Acts cooperatively with elavl1/elrA to stabilize AU-rich sequence (ARE)-containing mRNAs by binding to them and inhibiting their deadenylation (By similarity). Essential for embryonic gastrulation and neural development, acting to maintain the expression of a set of adhesion molecules and cell movement during embryogenesis. Plays a role in the specification and migration of pronephros cells during embryonic kidney development. Interacts with prmt1. Interacts with elavl1/elrA (via RRM3). Associates with ribosomes (By similarity). Shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Predominantly cytoplasmic in oocytes. Translocates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm upon arginine methylation (By similarity). Initially localizes to the animal half of the late blastula embryo, then to the neural crest and neural tube from late neurula stage through to larval stages, and finally in the neural tissues and developing pronephros of tailbud stages. Expressed in a range of adult tissues including kidney, brain, lung, liver, heart, muslce, stomach, small and large intestine, and skin. Expressed both maternally and zygotically. Expressed at a low level in the mature oocyte, with expression increasing rapidly during gastrulation, and is maintained throughout organogenesis. By cold stress in adult brain. Cold-induction may be adult-specific since cold-induction is not observed during embryonic development. Induced by tcf7l1/tcf-3. The glycine-rich domain, which contains a number of RGG motifs, is necessary to regulate nucleocytoplasmic localization. Methylated on arginine residues within RGG motifs. Methylation by prmt1 promotes cytoplasmic accumulation (By similarity).