Sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that interacts with inducible viral and cellular enhancer elements to regulate transcription of selected genes. AP-2 factors bind to the consensus sequence 5'-GCCNNNGGC-3' and activate genes involved in a large spectrum of important biological functions including proper eye, face, body wall, limb and neural tube development. They also suppress a number of genes including MCAM/MUC18, C/EBP alpha and MYC. AP-2-alpha is the only AP-2 protein required for early morphogenesis of the lens vesicle. Together with the CITED2 coactivator, stimulates the PITX2 P1 promoter transcription activation. Associates with chromatin to the PITX2 P1 promoter region. Binds DNA as a dimer. Can form homodimers or heterodimers with other AP-2 family members. Interacts with WWOX. Interacts with UBE2I. Interacts with RALBP1 in a complex also containing EPN1 and NUMB during interphase and mitosis (By similarity). Interacts with CITED4. Interacts with KCTD1; this interaction represses transcription activation. Interacts (via C-terminus) with CITED2 (via C-terminus); the interaction stimulates TFAP2A-transcriptional activation. Interacts (via N-terminus) with EP300 (via N-terminus); the interaction requires CITED2 (By similarity). Interacts with KCTD15; this interaction inhibits TFAP2A transcriptional activation (By similarity). Expressed in the embryonic heart. Expressed from embryo day 9.5 to birth. At day 12.5, expressed in the midbrain, hindbrain, spinal cord, sensory ganglia, epidermis, nephric system and limbs. At mid-embryogenesis, isoform 3 is the most abundant form in the nervous system and total embryo, but the least abundant form in the epidermis. In adults, AP-2A is expressed in the eye, skin, kidney, prostate, thymus, skeletal muscle and very weakly, in the brain. Highest expression found in skin and eye. All isoforms are induced during retinoic acid-mediated differentiation and by cAMP stimulation of primary astrocytes. Isoform 3 is most strongly induced in the former case, isoform 1 in the latter case. The PPxY motif mediates interaction with WWOX. Sumoylated on Lys-10; which inhibits transcriptional activity. Belongs to the AP-2 family.