ZBTB7B is a transcription regulator that acts as a key regulator of lineage commitment of immature T-cell precursors. It is necessary and sufficient for commitment of CD4 lineage, while its absence causes CD8 commitment. Development of immature T-cell precursors (thymocytes) to either the CD4 helper or CD8 killer T-cell lineages correlates precisely with their T-cell receptor specificity for major histocompatibility complex class II or class I molecules, respectively. ZBTB7B is a transcriptional repressor of the collagen COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes. It may also function as a repressor of fibronectin and possibly other extracellular matrix genes.