Transcription factor that acts as a transcriptional activator (PubMed:18505825, PubMed:18403418). Binds cooperatively with POU3F2/BRN2 or POU3F1/OCT6 to gene promoters, which enhances transcriptional activation (PubMed:18505825, PubMed:18403418). Acts as a transcriptional activator of TEAD2 by binding to its gene promoter and first intron (PubMed:20596238). Plays a redundant role with SOX4 and SOX12 in cell survival of developing tissues such as the neural tube, branchial arches and somites, thereby contributing to organogenesis (PubMed:20596238). Expression prominent in the periventricular cells of the central nervous system, also observed in a wide range of tissues involved in epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. Expression detected from 8.5 dpc through to 13.5 dpc, with a considerable increase in expression apparent at 13.5 dpc (PubMed:9337129, PubMed:18505825, PubMed:20596238). Expressed throughout the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as the mesenchyme of many developing organs between 12.5 dpc and 14.5 dpc (PubMed:18403418). Abundantly expressed in the developing cerebral cortex, thalamus, hippocampus, cerebellar cortex, and ganglia in the brain at 14.5 dpc and 16.5 dpc with low expression at 18.5 dpc (PubMed:18505825). Abundantly expressed in the gut epithelium at 14.5 dpc (PubMed:18505825). Abundantly expressed in the olfactory epithelium with low expression in skin, spinal cord, kidney, heart, muscle, cartilage from 14.5 dpc to 18.5 dpc (PubMed:18505825). Very low expression in intestine and lung, with no expression detectable at 18.5 dpc (PubMed:18505825). Abundantly expressed in the subventricular zone of the brain at 18.5 dpc (PubMed:18505825). Expressed in the brain at postnatal day 2 (PubMed:18403418). Mice die at birth with numerous morphological abnormalities (PubMed:20596238). Incomplete separation of the heart ventricles with fused aorta and pulmonary arteries (PubMed:20596238). Skeletal malformations including hypoplastic sternebrae, unfused vertebral bodies and hypomineralized skull (PubMed:20596238). All mice have microphthalmia and open eyelids, with 50% of mice exhibiting omphalocele, and 40% exhibiting cleft palate, cleft lips and a tail kink (PubMed:20596238). Sox11 and Sox4 double knockout mice die in utero at 10.5 dpc (PubMed:20596238). Embryos are small and unturned with developmental defects such as failure of heart primordia fusion, a thin and undulated neural tube, failure of limb budding and somite formation, suggesting developmental arrest at 8.5 dpc (PubMed:20596238). Embryos showed reduced cell proliferation and increased cell death in the neural tube, branchial arches, somites and reduced expression of Tead2 at 9.5 dpc (PubMed:20596238). Sox4, Sox11, and Sox12 triple knockout mice show severe thinning and undulation of the neural tube (PubMed:20596238).