Involved in translational repression of multiple mRNAs in the distal gonad (PubMed:23264733). Recruited to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of zif-1 by oma-1 and is required for translational repression of zif-1 (PubMed:20826530). May also be involved in translational repression of mei-1 through recruitment to the mei-1 3' UTR by oma-1 (PubMed:19786575). Required for oogenesis but not spermatogenesis, for P granule formation and for the localization of car-1 and cgh-1 to P granules (PubMed:23264733). Required for normal spindle orientation in early embryos (PubMed:19786575). Interacts with cgh-1 (PubMed:23264733). Interacts with ife-1 and oma-1 (PubMed:19786575). In one-cell embryos, expressed highly and diffusely throughout the cytoplasm and is associated with P granules. In the embryo, significantly enriched in the germ cell lineage. In somatic cells of the embryo, levels are dramatically reduced after the four-cell stage. In 1-day-old adult hermaphrodite gonads, levels are low in the distal gonad, dramatically increase as germ cells enter meiosis and remain high throughout the remainder of the gonad (at protein level). Defective spindle orientation, oogenesis defects and reduced embryo production with ectopic mei-1 localization (PubMed:19786575). Derepression of zif-1 in oocytes (PubMed:20826530). Hermaphrodites are sterile with gonads that are normal in size but display a bulbous shape in the distal region. When grown at 20 degrees Celsius, mutants display a mildly disorganized meiotic progression and contain a mixture of oocytes in diakinesis and pachytene stages in the proximal gonad. When grown at 25 degrees Celsius, 14% of mutants show a bifurcation of the gonad shortly after the transition zone. Strong masculinization of the germline (MOG) phenotype with 48% of mutants containing a mixture of sperm and oocytes in the proximal gonad and 25% containing only sperm. Failure of cgh-1 and car-1 to localize to P granules. Failure of pgh-1 to localize to P granules in 60% of mutants which may be due to the mislocalization of cgh-1 or car-1. Defective P granule formation (PubMed:23264733).