Probable corepressor protein, which regulates different key pathways such as the EGF receptor and Wg pathways. Involved in neuronal cell fate, survival and axon guidance, cell cycle regulation and repression of head identity in the embryonic trunk. May act with the Hox gene Deformed and the EGF receptor signaling pathway. Positive regulator of the Wg pathway in larval tissues but not in embryonic tissues. May act as a transcriptional corepressor protein, which repress transcription via the recruitment of large complexes containing histone deacetylase proteins. Ubiquitous. Expressed prior to cellularization in stage 3 embryos, and in blastoderm cells, including pole cells. Expressed throughout the rest of embryogenesis. Later, it is expressed at higher level in epidermal cells and CNS. Isoform 3 is expressed both maternally and zygotically. Produced by alternative promoter usage. Produced by alternative promoter usage. Produced by alternative splicing of isoform 1. Produced by alternative splicing of isoform 2. Belongs to the RRM Spen family. It is uncertain whether Met-1 or Met-7 is the initiator.