Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors have been implicated in cell lineage determination and differentiation. The protein encoded by this gene is a bHLH transcription factor and shares similarity with another bHLH transcription factor, Twist. It is thought that during osteoblast development this protein may inhibit osteoblast maturation and maintain cells in a preosteoblast phenotype. Two transcript variants encoding the same protein have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Dec 2012]