Transcription factor which promotes stress survival and delays aging. Required for cell cycle progression and development of the mesodermal and endodermal embryonic lineages (PubMed:25446273). Required for normal T-cell polarity, for correct migration of QL neuroblast descendants and other cells, for embryonic patterning and for the embryonic expression of hlh-8. Also required for the transdifferentiation of the Y rectal epithelial cell to the PDA motor neuron during larval development. Interacts with ceh-6, sem-4 and sox-2 (PubMed:22493276). Interacts with wdr-5.1 (PubMed:25124442). Expression detected in anterior intestine and head region. Expression detected from the 50-cell stage of embryogenesis through to adulthood. In the adult, expression increases two-fold between day 4 and day 14. By starvation, heat stress, oxidative stress, and UV stress. The SANT domain and GATA-type zinc finger are required for conversion of the Y rectal cell to the PDA neuron. Shortened lifespan and reduced survival in response to heat stress. Impaired differentiation of the Y rectal cell to the PDA neuron with the Y cell remaining undifferentiated in its original rectal location. Double RNAi-mediated knockdown with lin-40 results in delayed cell cycle progression in mesodermal and endodermal embryonic lineages, but accelerated cell cycle progression in a subset of embryonic lineages (PubMed:25446273).