Involved in regulation of intracellular signaling pathways during development. Specifically thought to play a role in canonical and/or non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways through interaction with DSH (Dishevelled) family proteins. Binds to dvl2 to regulate the degradation of beta-catenin (ctnnb1-A and possibly ctnnb1-B), thereby modulating the transcriptional activation of target genes of the Wnt signaling pathway. Seems to promote beta-catenin degradation if not phosphorylated and to block beta-catenin degradation if phosphorylated by CaMK1D. Involved in regulation of catenin delta/ctnnd1 protein level. May also bind to and directly stimulate the activity of tcf7l1-A. Also regulates the activation by dvl2 of jnk, a component of ctnnb1/beta-catenin-independent frizzled signaling. Required for notochord and head formation. Interacts with dbf4 and tcf7l1-A (By similarity). Interacts with dvl2/dsh; the interaction is required for dact1-b phosphorylation by CaMK1D and seems to become disrupted by the phosphorylation. Expressed both in the dorsal lip in early gastrula and throughout the posterior presumptive ectoderm in early neurula. Expressed in the dorsal neural folds at the tailbud stage and highly expressed in the tadpole head, including the brain, retina and cartilaginous branchial arch derivatives. Expressed both maternally and zygotically. The C-terminal PDZ-binding motif may mediate interaction with the PDZ domains of DSH (Dishevelled) family proteins. Phosphorylated by CaMK1D; the phosphorylation requires binding to dvl2/dsh. Named 'dapper', an antonym of dishevelled, because it acts as an antagonist of dvl2/dsh. Belongs to the dapper family.