Plays a role in ray morphogenesis in the male tail, probably by remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the cuticle. Binds 1 zinc ion per subunit. In hermaphrodites, expressed in the vulva, head ganglia, ventral nerve cord and amphid neurons. Expressed in the rays of the male tail. The conserved cysteine present in the cysteine-switch motif binds the catalytic zinc ion, thus inhibiting the enzyme. The dissociation of the cysteine from the zinc ion upon the activation-peptide release activates the enzyme.