Transcriptional factor (PubMed:11245580). Plays a critical role in neuronal morphogenesis (PubMed:11336497, PubMed:15964824). Represses the corneal epithelium differentiation (By similarity). Acts also as a metabolic regulator, by modulating insulin sensitivity in pancreatic beta cells and skeletal muscle cells. Inhibits transcriptional inducers of adipogenesis and has a repressive role in the expression of several adipokines, including leptin (By similarity). Interacts with FBXO38. Widely expressed (PubMed:11336497). Detected in the cornea epithelium (at protein level) (PubMed:28916725). Expression starts at 8.5 dpc in the trigeminal ganglion, the VII-VIII neural crest complex, and the subventricular neuroepithelium of both forebrain and hindbrain regions. At 11.5 dpc, expression is detected in the neural crest-derived sensory nervous system and, at 15.5 dpc, in the brain, spinal cord, retinal neuroepithelium and the inferior XI/X complex (PubMed:11336497, PubMed:11245580). In postnatal and adult animals, expression is confined to the cerebellum and dorsal root ganglia (PubMed:11336497). Expressed in the cornea epithelium at both 18.5 dpc and early postnatal (P5) but not at P50, when the corneal epithelium is fully differentiated (PubMed:28916725). The acidic N-terminal part may favor interaction with the basic domain of transcription factors. The 9aaTAD motif is a transactivation domain present in a large number of yeast and animal transcription factors. In KLF7, the motif is inactive. Deficient mice die within the first 3 days of life, showing little or no milk in the stomachs, hypopnea, cyanosis, olfactory bulb hypoplasia, axon outgrowth defects in the olfactory and optic nerves, defects of axon growth in the brain and reduced dendritic branching in the hippocampus. Belongs to the krueppel C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family.