May bind to DNA (By similarity). Essential for neural crest development, converting cells from an epidermal fate to a neural crest cell fate. Does not induce anterior neural tissue. At blastula and early gastrula stage (stages 9-10.25), expressed weakly throughout the ectoderm. At the late gastrula stage (stages 11.5-13), expression is restricted to the prospective neural fold region and anterior neural plate border region. Expression becomes enhanced in the prospective midbrain and hindbrain region at the late gastrula stage. Expression in the neural plate border region continues in the neurula stage with expression in the anterior region more enhanced. Expression represents the neural plate edges and part of the neural fold. In the tailbud stages expression is restricted to the eyes, dorsal brain and the posterior part of the dorsal spinal cord. In the brain, expression is higher in the mesencephalon and rhombencephalon. Expressed both maternally and zygotically. Expression increases from stage 11 (late gastrula), when the neural crest is induced, through to the neurula and tailbud stages. By FGF-signaling. By snai1/snail. By zic1, zic2, zic3 and zic5. Belongs to the GLI C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family.