Probable cell adhesion protein involved in gonadal cell migration. Expressed in all somatic gonadal cells including distal tip cells, anchor cell, uterine precursor cells and spermatheca precursor cells of the hermaphrodite. Also expressed in the pharynx, pharyngeal-intestinal valve, intestine, excretory cell and canal, seam cells, a subset of hypodermal cells, vulval precursor cells of the hermaphrodite and hook precursor cells in the male. Expressed in the somatic gonad from the L3 stage of larval development to adulthood. Hermaphrodites are maternal effect lethal and have elongated and strained appearing distal tip cells with abnormal migration. Male animals have detached gonadal cells that do not migrate leading to a partially elongated gonad. RNAi-mediated knockdown results in a mild defective gonad phenotype with 11% of animals having detached gonads and 17% of animals having 'stringy' gonads. Belongs to the TIP family.