Essential for hematopietic stem cell development through the regulation of p53/TP53 pathway. Expression in caudal hematopoietic tissue initiates during hematopietic stem cell expansion stages, and the expression level from 72 hours post-fertilization (hpf) to 96 hpf is much higher than that at 48 hpf. Mutants show a notable decrease in the population of hematopietic stem cells in caudal hematopoietic tissue and early T-cells in thymus (PubMed:29470984). Compromised cell proliferation and excessive apoptosis are observed in the caudal hematopoietic tissue (PubMed:29470984).