Transcription factor (By similarity). Associated with the BAF SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex (PubMed:23644491). Binds to the 5'-TGACCA-3' sequence motif in regulatory regions of target genes (By similarity). May play a role in hematopoiesis (PubMed:10757802). Essential factor in lymphopoiesis, required for B-cell formation in fetal liver (PubMed:12717432). May function as a modulator of the transcriptional repression activity of NR2F2 (PubMed:10744719). Interacts with NR2F1, PIAS3, NR2F2 and NR2F6 (PubMed:18681895, PubMed:10744719). Interacts with TBR1 (By similarity). Associates with the nuclear body. Colocalizes with SUMO1 and SENP2 in nuclear speckles. Isoforms are expressed in a tissue-specific fashion. Isoforms 1, isoform 2, and isoform 3 are expressed at similar levels in testis, kidney and spleen. Isoform 1 is expressed in the stomach, and isoform 2 is expressed exclusively in the lung. Overexpression following proviral integration in hematopoietic cells results in the generation of myeloid leukemia. Highly expressed in the developing embryo. Expressed in developing brain from 10.5 dpc, with highest expression in the forebrain between 12.5 dpc and 14.5 dpc. Central nervous system expression persists throughout the postnatal period in the cortex, hippocampus, olfactory buld, and, to a lesser extent, in the cerebellum. The N-terminus is involved in protein dimerization and in transactivation of transcription. Zinc finger domains are necessary for sequence-specific binding to DNA. Sumoylated with SUMO1. Germline biallelic loss of Bcl11a leads to perinatal lethality. Bcl11a +/- mice have a significantly decreased brain volume, affecting both gray and white matter. The limbic system (hippocampus and amygdala) is among the brain regions that are more severely affected. Bcl11a +/- mice display normal novelty-seeking behavior but show long-term social memory defects, impaired sociability, and increased physical activity. Bcl11a +/- mice show dynamic postnatal transcriptional dysregulation in the brain. Truncated N-terminus.