該基因編碼一個轉錄因子，包含堿性螺旋環螺旋和亮氨酸拉鏈結構特征。調節黑素細胞視網膜色素上皮的分化和發育，并負責黑素生成酶基因的色素細胞特異性轉錄。該基因的雜合子突變引起聽覺色素綜合征，如Waardenburg綜合征2型和Tietz綜合征。另外，還發現了編碼不同亞型的剪接轉錄變體。
This gene encodes a transcription factor that contains both basic helix-loop-helix and leucine zipper structural features. It regulates the differentiation and development of melanocytes retinal pigment epithelium and is also responsible for pigment cell-specific transcription of the melanogenesis enzyme genes. Heterozygous mutations in the this gene cause auditory-pigmentary syndromes, such as Waardenburg syndrome type 2 and Tietz syndrome. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified.