Enables double-stranded RNA binding activity and left-handed Z-DNA binding activity. Involved in several processes, including positive regulation of defense response; positive regulation of programmed cell death; and regulation of interleukin-1-mediated signaling pathway. Acts upstream of or within positive regulation of type I interferon-mediated signaling pathway. Located in cytoplasm and nucleus. Is expressed in eye and heart. Orthologous to human ZBP1 (Z-DNA binding protein 1). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]