GLI1 is a member of the Kruppel family of zinc finger proteins. GLI1 plays a pivotal role in the Hedgehog signaling pathway, which is critical for embryonic development, tissue patterning, and the maintenance of stem cell populations. Located primarily in the nucleus, GLI1 functions as a transcriptional activator by binding to specific DNA sequences and regulating the expression of target genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Nuclear localization of GLI1 is essential for modulating gene expression, and dysregulation is implicated in various cancers, including gliomas, highlighting GLI1′s importance in both normal physiology and oncogenic processes. GLI1 interacts with other proteins such as SUFU and various co-activators to finely tune transcriptional activity, ensuring precise control of cellular responses to developmental and environmental cues.