Probable transcription factor that regulates the lineage progression of embryonic blast cells and controls the postmitotic specification and differentiation of neurons (PubMed:26153233, PubMed:26341465). Cooperates with additional factors to direct the differentiation of the olfactory neurons, functioning with the transcription factor ceh-36 to specify AWC neurons and with the LIM homeodomain factor lim-4 to suppress AWC terminal differentiation and promote AWB neuron differentiation (PubMed:26341465). Plays a role in the terminal differentiation of glutamatergic and cholinergic neurons (PubMed:26153233). Required for natural reprogramming events and in particular for the transdifferentiation of the Y rectal epithelial cell to the PDA motor neuron during larval development (PubMed:22493276). Interacts with egl-27 and ceh-6 (PubMed:22493276). Interacts with ceh-36 and lim-4 (PubMed:26341465). Interacts with wdr-5.1 (PubMed:25124442). Expressed in AWC and AWB olfactory neurons throughout life (PubMed:26153233, PubMed:26341465). Also expressed in the IL1, IL2, URA, URB and OLL sensory neurons, the AIM, AIN, AVK, RIH interneurons, and the motor neuron class RME (PubMed:26153233). Limited expression during embryogenesis with expression in only a subset of neuroblasts. Expressed in neuronal progenitor cells late in nervous system development and in some non-neural progenitor cells. Expressed broadly during larval development stages. Animals arrest at the first larval stage of development with an unattached pharynx (PubMed:26153233). Able to form neurons, but with defective terminal differentiation of both AWC and AWB olfactory neurons, OLL and IL1 sensory glutamatergic neurons and cholinergic neurons including IL2, URA and URB (PubMed:26153233, PubMed:26341465). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in failed transdifferentiation of the Y rectal epithelial cell to the PDA motor neuron (PubMed:22493276).