Activates insulin, somatostatin, glucokinase, islet amyloid polypeptide and glucose transporter type 2 gene transcription. Particularly involved in glucose-dependent regulation of insulin gene transcription. As part of a PDX1:PBX1b:MEIS2b complex in pancreatic acinar cells is involved in the transcriptional activation of the ELA1 enhancer; the complex binds to the enhancer B element and cooperates with the transcription factor 1 complex (PTF1) bound to the enhancer A element. Binds preferentially the DNA motif 5'-[CT]TAAT[TG]-3'. During development, specifies the early pancreatic epithelium, permitting its proliferation, branching and subsequent differentiation. At adult stage, required for maintaining the hormone-producing phenotype of the beta-cell. Interacts with the basic helix-loop-helix domains of TCF3(E47) and NEUROD1 and with HMG-I(Y). Interacts with SPOP (By similarity). Interacts with the methyltransferase SETD7. Part of a PDX1:PBX1b:MEIS2b complex. Duodenum and pancreas (Langerhans islet beta cells and small subsets of endocrine non-beta-cells, at low levels in acinar cells). The Antp-type hexapeptide mediates heterodimerization with PBX on a regulatory element of the somatostatin promoter. The homeodomain, which contains the nuclear localization signal, not only mediates DNA-binding, but also acts as a protein-protein interaction domain for TCF3(E47), NEUROD1 and HMG-I(Y). Phosphorylated by the SAPK2 pathway at high intracellular glucose concentration. Phosphorylated by HIPK2 on Ser-268 upon glucose accumulation. This phosphorylation mediates subnuclear localization shifting. Phosphorylation by PASK may lead to translocation into the cytosol (By similarity). The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Disease susceptibility is associated with variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. According to PubMed:16141209, it may be methylated by SETD7 in vitro. However, the relevance of methylation is unsure in vivo. Belongs to the Antp homeobox family. IPF1/XlHbox-8 subfamily.