Transcription factor (By similarity). Binds to regulatory DNA sequences in order to modulate transcription; negatively autoregulates its own expression, perhaps dependent upon CBF beta homolog bro-1 (PubMed:18158917). Promotes proliferation, and prevents differentiation, of seam cells, a stem cell-like lineage, acting in concert with bro-1 (PubMed:31740621). Required for controlling cell proliferation in the seam cells, perhaps by repressing expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor cki-1 (PubMed:16236764, PubMed:17933794). Inhibition of seam cell differentiation is regulated by rnt-1 and bro-1, perhaps acting upstream of pop-1, by antagonizing pop-1 repressor function (PubMed:31740621). Required for asymmetrical cell divisions in the lineage derived from a posterior embryonic seam cell, the T blast cell, and for asymmetric expression of zinc finger protein tlp-1 (PubMed:16226243). Regulates growth and male tail development (PubMed:15385167, PubMed:16236764, PubMed:16226243, PubMed:31083672). Involved in the oxidative stress response, perhaps downstream of the p38 MAP kinase pathway, and acting as part of a negative feedback loop via a transcriptional target gene, tyrosine-protein phosphatase vhp-1 (PubMed:22308034). Positively modulates dopaminergic signaling in a non-cell autonomous manner (PubMed:31083672). May be involved in TGF-beta signaling (PubMed:15385167). Interacts with CBFbeta homolog bro-1; acts to increase the affinity and specificity of interaction of rnt-1 with DNA (PubMed:17933794). Interacts with TGF-beta pathway protein sma-4 (PubMed:15385167). High level of nuclear localization in interphase seam cells before the symmetric larval stage L2 divisions, but subsequently rnt-1 disappears during mitosis, and largely remains absent when the nuclei reform in telophase. Expressed in the intestine. Expressed in seam cells in embryos from around 260 minutes post fertilization and in all subsequent developmental stages (PubMed:16236764, PubMed:16226243). Also expressed at the comma stage, at about 400 min, in the body wall muscle cells (PubMed:16226243). Expressed in males, in the descendant cells of the V5, V6, and T lineages, which include all the A-type neuron, the B-type neuron, and the structural cells of the male-specific sense organs, known as rays, from the mid-L3 larval stage to L4 stage (PubMed:15385167). Expressed in dopaminergic neurons at larval stage L4 (PubMed:31083672). May be ubiquitinated in order to be targeted for proteasome-mediated degradation in intestinal cells. May be phosphorylated by members of the p38 MAP kinase pathway. RNAi-mediated knockdown causes embryonic lethality and missing male-specific sense organs, known as rays (PubMed:16236764). In hermaphrodites, RNAi-mediated knockdown causes a slight (5%) reduction in body length at adulthood (PubMed:16236764).