Involved in skeletal muscle development and differentiation. Ubiquitous expression during early development at 1 dpf, but by 2 dpf, transcripts are virtually undetectable in the major axial skeletal muscles. Morphants exhibit leaner bodies, smaller eyes, and pericardial edema. At 3 dpf morphants show reduced birefringence in axial skeletal muscles suggesting disorganized skeletal muscle structure.