Probable transcription factor, involved in regulation of sexually dimorphic synaptic connectivity and behavior (PubMed:33021200). Promotes pruning of phasmid neuron synaptic connections in hermaphrodite animals during sexual maturation (PubMed:33021200). Monomer (PubMed:33021200). May interact with ubiquitin; the interaction may stabilize dmd-4, especially in neurons (PubMed:33021200). Expressed in PHA and PHB phasmid sensory neuron pairs of adult hermaphrodites, but not adult males (PubMed:33021200). Expressed in sexually non-dimorphic manner in some head sensory neurons (AFD, AWB, AWC, ASE, ASG, ASH, BAG), a single pharyngeal neuron (I5) and a number of MS blastomere derived cells - the head mesodermal cell, (hmc), a single pharyngeal muscle (pm8), a pharyngeal gland cell pair (g2L/R) and four of the six pharyngeal intestinal valve cells (PubMed:33021200). First expressed in mid-embryonic development, in the head mesodermal cell, (hmc), a single pharyngeal muscle (pm8), a pharyngeal gland cell pair (g2L/R) and four of the six pharyngeal intestinal valve cells (PubMed:33021200). Around hatching, expressed in some head and tail sensory neurons, including the phasmid neurons PHA and PHB (PubMed:33021200). During larval development, expression is the same in both sexes until the larval L4 stage to adult molt, when expression in PHA and PHB in the male disappears, but continues in the hermaphrodite (PubMed:33021200). DMA domain may interact with ubiquitin. Causes embryonic lethality (PubMed:33021200). Abnormal anterior intestinal function (PubMed:33021200). Belongs to the DMRT family.