Plays an important role in chromosome cohesion during both mitosis and meiosis (PubMed:12827206). In prophase of meiosis, it is involved in the formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC) and specifically, in the diplotene and diakinesis phases of prophase, it stabilizes the association of homologous chromosomes during synapsis and sister chromatid cohesion (PubMed:12827206). It regulates cohesin subunits to promote meiotic chromosome cohesion and localizes non-SMC (structural maintenance of chromosome) cohesin subunits to chromatin prior to or during pre-meiotic S phase (PubMed:12827206). Implicated in influencing either the stability or loading of meiotic-specific cohesin subunit, rec8 (PubMed:12827206). Controls cell cycle exit and cell fusion to prevent the premature differentiation into adult cells (PubMed:15691769). Specifically, regulates hypodermal seam cell identity (PubMed:15691769). Associates with the cohesin complex (PubMed:12827206). Interacts with smc-1, smc-3, scc-1 and scc-3 (PubMed:12827206). Expression is increased during late postembryonic development (PubMed:10550049). In embryos, there is diffuse nuclear expression at interphase, but this reduces by the metaphase-anaphase transition (PubMed:12827206). There is diffuse expression in pre-meiotic germline nuclei as the nuclei enter meiotic prophase and later in the diplotene and diakinesis phases of prophase (PubMed:12827206). RNAi-mediated knockdown is embryonic lethal (PubMed:12827206). In germline cells, aberrant segregation of chromosomes is observed during both mitosis and meiosis, resulting in aneuploidy (PubMed:12827206). There is a weaker mitosis phenotype in somatic tissues (PubMed:12827206). Weak seam cell differentiation capacity during the L4 larval development stage, including 30% increased seam cell fusion and reduced cell cycle exit (PubMed:15691769). RNAi-mediated knockdown increases the survival rate and partially restores alae formation of let-7 n2853 mutants at 20 dgrees Celsius (PubMed:15691769). Belongs to the timeless family.