Transcription factor that acts as a cardiac regulator and an effector of alpha1-adrenergic signaling. Binds to PE response elements (PERE) present in the promoter of genes such as ANF/NPPA and acts as a direct transcriptional activator of NPPA. Also acts as a cofactor with GATA4, a key cardiac regulator. Binds DNA. Interacts with GATA4 (By similarity). Predominantly present in heart. Outside the heart, it is detected in embryonic and postnatal vascular smooth muscle cells and in epithelial cells of the lung, gut and kidney at sites of epithelial morphogenesis and in the spinal cord (at protein level). At 9.5 dpc, it is predominantly detected in cardiomyocyte nuclei This expression is maintained throughout embryonic development in the atria and in the ventricular walls and trabeculae. Also present in the outflow tract, the truncus arteriosus, the developing atrioventricular valve and the cushion mesenchyme. Appears to decrease after 14 dpc and by 17.5 dpc; it is then spatially redistributed, with highest levels in subendocardial myocytes and the septum and no expression in epicardial and apical myocytes. It is also strongly expressed in the atrioventricular valve. During postnatal development, it decreases in both atria and ventricles. In the adult heart, expression is found in the aortic valve in scattered cells and in the atria, ventricles, and septum. Interestingly, it is markedly up-regulated in hypertrophied adult ventricles of transgenic mice overexpressing the angiotensin II receptor (at protein level). Belongs to the krueppel C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family.