Guanyl-specific endoribonuclease which cleaves the phosphodiester bond in single-stranded RNA between the 3'-guanylic residue and the 5'-OH residue of adjacent nucleotide, resulting in the formation of a corresponding 2',3'-cyclic phosphate intermediate (PubMed:26787882). P-granule component involved in germline development (PubMed:15238518, PubMed:19372764, PubMed:24746798). Together with the P-granule component pgl-1, is involved in the formation of P-granules (PubMed:21402787, PubMed:24746798, PubMed:27594427). Together with pgl-1, probably recruits other granule components such as pos-1, mex-3 and glh-1, and RNA to P-granules (PubMed:21402787, PubMed:27594427). In vitro, binds mRNA; this interaction is required for the formation of liquid-like droplets that resemble P-granules (PubMed:27594427). Most likely recruits pgl-1 into P-granules during autophagy (PubMed:19167332). Associates with adapters such as sepa-1 and is required for the accumulation and degradation of P-granules by autophagy in somatic cells (PubMed:19167332, PubMed:24140420, PubMed:28806108). This ensures exclusive localization of the P-granules in germ cells (PubMed:19167332, PubMed:28806108). In addition, may act redundantly with pgl-1 to protect germ cells from excessive germline apoptosis during normal oogenesis and development of the two gonadal arms (PubMed:26598553). This may in part be through regulating the localization of sir-2.1 which is involved in germ cell apoptosis (PubMed:26598553). May protect somatic cells from excessive apoptosis during normal development (PubMed:27650246). [RNA] containing guanosine + H2O = an [RNA fragment]-3'-guanosine-3'-phosphate + a 5'-hydroxy-ribonucleotide-3'-[RNA fragment]. May form a homodimer (PubMed:21402787, PubMed:26787882). Interacts with pgl-1 and pgl-2; this association is not required for P-granule localization of either pgl-1 or pgl-2 (PubMed:15238518). Interacts with sepa-1; the interaction is enhanced in the presence of RNA (PubMed:19167332, PubMed:24140420). Interacts with prmt-1; the interaction is direct (PubMed:24140420). Localizes to P granules in germ cells at all stages of development except in spermatogenesis (PubMed:15238518). Localizes to the germ precursor cells Z2 and Z3 in embryos (PubMed:19372764, PubMed:24140420, PubMed:27650246). Co-localizes with pgl-1 in P-granules, but localization in P-granules is not dependent on an association with pgl-1 (PubMed:15238518, PubMed:21402787). Highly expressed in the germline (PubMed:15238518). Expressed in most somatic cells (PubMed:27650246). Expressed throughout development from embryos to adults (PubMed:15238518, PubMed:27650246). Not expressed in somatic cells of embryos (PubMed:28806108). First expressed in 1-cell embryos, and expression continues until the 24-cell stage (PubMed:15238518). Highly expressed in early stage embryos (PubMed:19167332). Expression decreases after the 24-cell stage and is negligible throughout the rest of embryogenesis and early stages of larval development (PubMed:15238518, PubMed:19167332). During larval development, first expressed in the germline of L3 stage larvae (PubMed:15238518). The dimerization domain also acts as a hinge; changes in its structure probably impact oligomerization and RNA-binding. The RNA-binding RGG-box is required for the recruitment of some P-granule components such as pos-1 and probably mRNA, but is dispensable for granule formation. Methylated at arginine residues in the RNA-binding RGG-box by prmt-1. Methylation promotes P-granule degradation by autophagy. Viable, and not temperature sensitive (PubMed:15238518). Failed degradation and diffuse cytoplasmic localization of the P-granule component pgl-1 in the somatic cells of embryos (PubMed:19167332). Increased germ cell apoptosis in gonadal arms, and this is further increased following UV irradiation (PubMed:26598553). Double knockout with pgl-1 results in 37% of progeny arresting as late embryos and 9% as larvae at 26 degrees Celsius (PubMed:15238518). Double knockout with pgl-1 enhances the temperature-sensitive sterility phenotype and germline defects of the pgl-1 single knockout (PubMed:15238518, PubMed:26598553). Germline defects include increased apoptosis in the gonad, fewer germ nuclei, no sperm and no oocytes in the gonad arms (PubMed:15238518, PubMed:26598553). The gonads of the double knockout with pgl-1 degenerate as the adults age (PubMed:15238518). Conversely, double knockout with ced-1 results in reduced somatic cell apoptosis (PubMed:27650246). Triple knockout with pgl-1 and pgl-2 results in 58% of progeny arresting as late embryos and 5% as larvae at 26 degrees Celsius (PubMed:15238518). Triple knockout with pgl-1 and him-3 further reduces the number of self-cross progeny as compared to the pgl-1 and him-3 double mutant and him-3 single mutant (PubMed:15238518). Double RNAi-mediated knockdown with pgl-1 results in a reduced number of pos-1, mex-1 and glh-1 positive granules in embryos (PubMed:21402787). Quadruple RNAi-mediated knockdown with glh-1, glh-4 and pgl-1 results in offspring that display 27-89% sterility, abnormal oocytes and do not have embryos in the uterus (PubMed:24746798). These sterile offspring still produce sperm (PubMed:24746798). Furthermore, these offspring may have compromised P-granule integrity as there is diffuse cytoplasmic localization of the P-granule component deps-1, which may cause germ cells to initiate somatic reprogramming (PubMed:24746798). RNAi-mediated knockdown in a double ced-1 and hpl-2 mutant background rescues the reduced somatic cell apoptotic cell defect in the ced-1 and hpl-2 double knockout at 25 degrees Celsius (PubMed:27650246).