May monitor slit diaphragm protein assembly, a specialized adherens junction characteristic of podocytes. In case of podocyte injury, it shuttles into the nucleus and acts as a transcription regulator. Plays a role in the regulation of cell morphology and cytoskeletal organization (By similarity). Acts as a transcriptional corepressor for snai1 and snai2/slug and plays a role in regulating neural crest development (By similarity). Belongs to the zyxin/ajuba family.