Probable transcription factor. Involved in kidney development, acting synergistically with lhx1/lim-1 to establish the pronephric primordium in late gastrulae/early neurulae. Expression starts at late gastrula stages in cells fated to become the primordia of the otic system and the pronephric kidney. Expression is maintained in these two structures through late tailbud stages. Does not appear to be expressed in the thyroid gland. By retinoic acid in combination with activin.