Transcription factor that binds to the octamer motif (5'-ATTTGCAT-3'). Activates transcription when directly bound to the octamer DNA sequence, but can form repression complexes with other proteins at the promoter site to inhibit transcription. Binds to the promoter of the vent2-B gene to activate transcription when in the presence of other BMP signaling factors also bound to the promoter. Inhibits the competence of ectodermal cells to respond to BMP during embryogenesis thereby inhibiting epidermal differentiation and promoting neural induction. Antagonizes the activity of nodal/activin signaling by forming a transcriptional repression complex on the gsc and mix2 gene promoters to inhibit their transcription, and thus maintain the undifferentiated state of embryonic cells to prevent them from differentiating prematurely. Acts maternally to inhibit vegt and beta-catenin-activated gene transcription by forming a transcriptional repression complex on the nodal/nr1 and siamois promoters to inhibit their transcription. Interacts with components of the transcription complex that assembles on the vent2-B gene, including vent2 (via C-terminus), smad1 and smad4. Forms a repression complex on the promoters of the gsc and mix2 genes via interactions with the nodal/activin signaling pathway transducers foxh1/fast1, gtf2ird1/wbscr11 and smad2. Forms a repression complex on the promoters of the nodal/nr1 and siamois genes with the maternal factors tcf7l1/tcf3 and vegt. Highly enriched within the animal half of developing embryos within ectodermal and mesodermal regions. Expressed in the neuroectoderm at the early neurula stage, with expression initially extending to the future hindbrain/midbrain boundary, but later shifting toward the posterior pole where it persists within the tip of the tail in hatching embryos. Expressed at very low levels in the adult kidney. Expressed both maternally and zygotically. Expressed in oocytes and cleavage stage embryos. Expression increases during blastula stages, reaches a maximum at stage 11 during gastrulation, then subsequently declines to be no longer detectable by the end of neurulation. Belongs to the POU transcription factor family. Class-5 subfamily.