This gene encodes a zinc finger protein that has been demonstrated to interact with the deleted in azoospermia (DAZ) protein. DAZ plays an important role early in germ cell development to maintain the initial germ cell population. Deletion of this gene in mice compromises Hedgehog signaling during e
mbryogenesis. Mouse embryos lacking the encoded protein show severe developmental defects with dorsalized neural tubes and underdeveloped somites. Alternative splicing of this gene results in multiple transcript variants. A pseudogene for this gene has been identified on chromosome 5. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2015]
Predicted to enable zinc ion binding activity. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including ciliary transition zone assembly; neural tube development; and protein localization to cilium. Located in axoneme; centriole; and ciliary basal body. Is expressed in embryo; future spinal cord; and
olfactory epithelium. Used to study autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in polycystic kidney disease 5. Orthologous to human DZIP1L (DAZ interacting zinc finger protein 1 like). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Jul 2025]