This gene encodes a member of the TSC22 domain family of leucine zipper transcription factors. The encoded protein is stimulated by transforming growth factor beta, and regulates the transcription of multiple genes including C-type natriuretic peptide. The encoded protein may play a critical role in tumor suppression through the induction of cancer cell apoptosis, and a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of this gene has been associated with diabetic nephropathy. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding multiple isoforms have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2011]