Enables nuclear receptor activity. Contributes to DNA-binding transcription factor activity and vitamin D response element binding activity. Acts upstream of or within embryonic organ morphogenesis and inner ear development. Predicted to be located in cytoplasm. Predicted to be active in nucleus. Is expressed in several structures, including digestive system; heart; intestinal bulb primordium; nervous system; and pleuroperitoneal region. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in several diseases, including autoimmune disease (multiple); carcinoma (multiple); liver disease (multiple); lung disease (multiple); and melanoma (multiple). Orthologous to human VDR (vitamin D receptor).