Transcriptional repressor that plays a role in various developmental processes such as myogenesis and brain development. Specifically binds the consensus DNA sequence 5'-[AC]ACATCTG[GT][AC]-3' which contains the E box core, and acts by recruiting chromatin remodeling multiprotein complexes. Plays a key role in myogenesis by directly repressing the expression of ID2 and ID3, 2 inhibitors of skeletal myogenesis. Also involved in controlling cell division of progenitor cells and regulating the survival of postmitotic cortical neurons. May also play a role in the organization of chromosomes in the nucleus. Interacts with DNMT3A. Associates with condensed chromatin. In the developing brain, expression is detected at embryonic day (E) 10 in the neuroepithelium, and subsequently in the ventricular zones of the cerebral cortex in the 12 dpc embryo. Strong expression is observed in the preplate in the cerebral cortex from this stage onward. High levels of expression continue to be detected in the cortical plate and subventricular zone of the neocortex, hippocampus, and parts of the amygdala, but not in the thalamus or striatum. In the developing cerebral cortex, it is expressed both in postmitotic glutamatergic projection neurons and in their progenitor cells, but not in GABAergic interneurons. Also expressed in the adult neocortex, hippocampus, parts of the amygdala and granule cells in the cerebellum. Death shortly after birth. Brain of mutant mice display dysplasia of the neocortex and of the hippocampus, reduction of the number of mature cortical neurons and defects of laminar organization. In the cortex, an impaired cell-division patterning during the late embryonic stage and an enhancement of apoptosis of the postmitotic neurons are observed. Belongs to the krueppel C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family. ZBTB18 subfamily. Extended N-terminus.