Enables several functions, including nucleic acid binding activity; promoter-specific chromatin binding activity; and transcription corepressor activity. Involved in several processes, including negative regulation of smooth muscle cell differentiation; negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter involved in smooth muscle cell differentiation; and positive regulation of histone H3-K9 trimethylation. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including glycerolipid metabolic process; nervous system development; and regulation of gene expression. Located in cytosol; heterochromatin; and nucleus. Is expressed in several structures, including alimentary system; early conceptus; nervous system; paraxial mesenchyme; and sensory organ. Used to study Rett syndrome. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Rett syndrome; X-linked intellectual disability-psychosis-macroorchidism syndrome; autistic disorder; severe congenital encephalopathy due to MECP2 mutation; and syndromic X-linked intellectual disability Lubs type. Orthologous to human MECP2 (methyl-CpG binding protein 2). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]