Can act either as a transcription repressor or as a transcription activator, depending on the cell context. May be involved in neuron differentiation. In neural plate stage embryos, expressed in precursors of primary sensory and motor neurons. At tailbud stages, expression persists in neural tube and is up-regulated in anterior structures such as eye and brain, and in branchial arches. By ngn1. The C2H2-type zinc finger 1 has a major repressor function. Belongs to the GLI C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family.