Plays a functionally redundant role in shifting germ cell sexual differentiation in hermaprodites. Required for the development of somatic gonad structures and for progression from larval stage to adulthood. Extensively phosphorylated on serine residues in the RS domain. RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) of rsp-5 and rsp-6 result in fertile animals that exhibit excessive sperm and delayed oocyte production, and sterile animals that develop morphological abnormalities of somatic gonads. Rsp-2/rsp-6 RNAi caused severe abnormalities in somatic gonad structures and in some cases animals were arrested or dead at the larval stage. Belongs to the splicing factor SR family.