Predicted to enable metal ion binding activity. Acts upstream of or within axis elongation. Predicted to be located in cytosol. Predicted to be part of transcription regulator complex. Is expressed in musculoskeletal system; nervous system; pharyngeal arch; and primary germ layer. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Loeys-Dietz syndrome 6; Lynch syndrome; cervical cancer; and ovarian cancer. Orthologous to human SMAD2 (SMAD family member 2).