Transcription factor, involved in positive and negative modulation of transcription (PubMed:12835398, PubMed:28614700). Binds to multiple DNA sequence motifs in the regulatory elements of target genes, including homeobox selector egl-5 and LIM homeobox mec-3 (PubMed:12835398). Involved in cell-fate regulation in multiple lineages, including neuronal, mesodermal and vulval (PubMed:8756352, PubMed:28614700, PubMed:12835398, PubMed:10926783). Required to regulate the fate of PLM touch receptor neurons, acting via negative modulation of transcription of egl-5 and mec-3 (PubMed:12835398). May modulate gene expression by interacting with different transcription factors during neuronal and mesodermal cell development (PubMed:8756352). Promotes the proliferative sex myoblast (SM) fate, in a cell autonomous manner, acting via the SoxC transcription factor sem-2 (PubMed:28614700). Involved in vulval cell-fate determination, acting by regulating expression of homeobox protein lin-39, and may link lin-39 to incoming signaling pathways (PubMed:10926783). Plays a role in detoxification of reactive oxygen species (ROS), by regulating expression of transcription factor skn-1 and the phase II detoxification genes (PubMed:32718932). Expressed throughout the mesodermal (M) lineage from the 1-M stage to the 18-M stage, and in the sex myoblast (SM) sub-lineage from the 2-SM stage to the 16-SM stage, before the cells differentiate (PubMed:28614700). Expression declines significantly in the differentiated coelomocytes (CC) and vulval muscles, but remains in the differentiated body-wall muscles (BWM) (PubMed:28614700). Expressed in the vulval precursor cells (VPC) during larval development (PubMed:10926783). Belongs to the sal C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family. Truncated N-terminus.