CXXC5 is zinc finger protein closely related to the DVL1-binding protein CXXC4 (also known as Idax), and like CXXC4 is thought to modulate the Wnt signaling pathway during development. CXXC5 is upregulated in neural stem cells upon BMP4 stimulation, leading to decreased levels of the Wnt-signaling target AXIN2 and facilitated the response of the stem cells to Wnt3a. Recent reports suggest CXXC5 transcription is activated by the Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) transcription factor, and together are involved in the WNT/beta-catenin pathway and play a role in embryonic kidney development.