Transcription repression of its own gene by binding to the PIF operator (pifO) and replication initiation from the primary origin (ori-1). Transcriptional repressor of the pifA and pifB. C protein has a much higher affinity for pifO than for ori-1. C protein, like p22 proteins, contains a number of alpha-helical regions and these may be involved in forming a pattern of non-covalent contacts with DNA which is different from that formed by most DNA-binding proteins.