Orphan nuclear receptor that binds DNA containing an extended core motif half-site sequence 5'-AAGTCA-3' (PubMed:18179707, PubMed:19906858). In males, plays an essential role in the migration of the linker cell which guides gonad elongation during the L3 and L4 stages of larval development by negatively regulating the expression of netrin receptor unc-5 at the mid-L3 stage (PubMed:22363008, PubMed:19906858). Involved in the regulation of non-apoptotic cell death in the linker cell, acting upstream of or in parallel to transcription factor hsf-1 (PubMed:27472063). Expressed in linker cell. RNAi-mediated knockdown in males prevents migration of the linker cell (LC) during larval development resulting in abnormal gonad migration (PubMed:9851916, PubMed:19906858). At the L3-to-L4 molt stage, the LC fails to reach the P7.p hypodermal cell and fails to perform the turn from the dorsal to the ventral side of the body. During the late L4 stage, the LC turns ventrally but stays farther behind its normal position (PubMed:9851916, PubMed:19906858). In addition, LC polarization, which normally occurs during the L3-L4 stages, is severely delayed and mig-2 polarization to the adherent side of thr LC is impaired (PubMed:19906858). In the LC, expression of unc-5 at the L3 and L4 larval stages is increased and expression of zmp-1 is absent at L4 stage (PubMed:19906858). Prevents non-apoptotic cell death in the LC (PubMed:27472063). Knockdown enhances LC survival on egl-20, eor-1, or lin-29 mutant backgrounds (PubMed:27472063). Causes precocious expression of let-70 in the LC during larval stage L3 (PubMed:27472063). RNAi-mediated knockdown in hermaphrodites causes no defect in distal tip cell migration (PubMed:19906858). Belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor family.