Recruits the histone methyltransferase dot-1.1 to chromatin to methylate 'Lys-79' of histone H3 and activate transcription (PubMed:23806335). Recognizes and binds histone H3 methylated at 'Lys-4' (H3K4me) at the promoters of target genes (PubMed:23263989). During stress, the zfp-1-dot-1.1 complex also plays a role in the deubiquitination of histone H2B sites, which negatively modulates the RNA polymerase II-induced transcription of highly expressed genes (PubMed:23806335). In response to stress, binds to the pdk-1 promoter to negatively regulate pdk-1 expression, which negatively modulates daf-16/FOXO-mediated gene expression (PubMed:21980302). Thus, most likely via this mechanism, in response to stress, it confers a protective role against neuronal necrosis (PubMed:25422944). Plays a role in Insulin/IGF-1-like signaling (IIS)- and diet restriction-mediated lifespan extension by controlling daf-16/FOXO and pha-4/FOXA recruitment to target promoters (PubMed:27039057). May negatively regulate the expression of genes required for vulval development (PubMed:16507136, PubMed:16710447). May play a role in axon guidance in D-type motor neurons (PubMed:24066155). May suppress sensitivity to RNAi (PubMed:16507136). Required for migration of HSN motor neurons during embryogenesis. Multimer; in vitro (PubMed:23806335). Interacts (via C-terminus) with dot-1.1 to form a heterodimer known as the zfp-1-dot-1.1 complex or DotCom complex (PubMed:23806335). Localizes to all six condensed chromosomes (PubMed:23263989). zfp-1 and dot-1.1 colocalize to promoters of highly expressed genes (PubMed:23806335). Isoform a: Expressed at high levels in maturing oocytes, but at low levels in the rest of the germ line (at protein level) (PubMed:23263989). Isoform a: Not expressed in the pharynx, germ line and tail (PubMed:27039057). Isoform c: Not expressed in the germ line (at protein level) (PubMed:23263989). Isoform c: Uniformly expressed (PubMed:27039057). Expressed in somatic cells throughout development (at protein level) (PubMed:23263989). Isoform a: Predominantly expressed in embryos and adults (at protein level) (PubMed:23263989). Isoform c: Abundant at larval stages (at protein level) (PubMed:23263989). The PHD-type zinc finger 1 most likely mediates nuclear localization. The ePHD2 domain folds as an integrated structural module comprizing the C2HC pre-PHD-type 2 zinc finger and the PHD-type 2 zinc finger. It mediates non-specific binding to dsDNA, but does not bind histones in contrast to many PHD-type zinc fingers. RNAi-mediated knockdown results in developmental defects such as slow growth, protruding vulva, and a reduced brood size (PubMed:16710447). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in germ line defects, resulting in no embryos or impaired oogenesis (PubMed:23263989). RNAi-mediated knockdown suppresses the multivulval phenotype of the lin-15A-lin15B n765 mutant (PubMed:16507136, PubMed:16710447). RNAi-mediated knockdown shortens the lifespan of daf-2 e1370 mutants (PubMed:27039057).