Acts as a transcriptional activator. Involved in neurogenesis. Plays important roles in the early stage of organogenesis of the CNS, as well as during dorsal spinal cord development and maturation of the cerebellum. Involved in the spatial distribution of mossy fiber (MF) neurons within the pontine gray nucleus (PGN). Plays a role in the regulation of MF axon pathway choice. Promotes MF migration towards ipsilaterally-located cerebellar territories. May have a role in shear flow mechanotransduction in osteocytes. Retains nuclear GLI1 and GLI3 in the cytoplasm. Binds to the minimal GLI-consensus sequence 5'-TGGGTGGTC-3' (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Nucleus, Cytoplasm
Localizes in the cytoplasm in presence of MDFIC overexpression.
CNS. A high level expression is seen in the cerebellum. Detected in the nuclei of the cerebellar granule cell lineage from the progenitor cells of the external germinal layer to the postmigrated cells of the internal granular layer. Detected in medulloblastoma (26/29 cases), but not present in all other tumors examined.