Plays a key role in the sexual differentiation of germ cells by promoting the male fate but suppressing the female fate. Represses the female fate pathways by suppressing meiosis, which in turn results in the promotion of the male fate. Maintains the suppression of meiosis by preventing STRA8 expression, which is required for premeiotic DNA replication, after CYP26B1 is decreased. Regulates the localization of the CCR4-NOT deadenylation complex to P-bodies and plays a role in recruiting the complex to trigger the degradation of mRNAs involved in meiosis. Required for the maintenance of the spermatogonial stem cell population. Not essential for the assembly of P-bodies but is required for the maintenance of their normal state (By similarity). Interacts with CNOT1, CNOT3, CNOT6L, CNOT7 and CNOT9. Localizes at P-bodies during gonocyte development (By similarity). More abundant in perinuclear region of the cytoplasm of the germ cells of the adult testis. Testis and ovary. Expression found in several spermatogenic stages: in cells on the periphery of the tubules which could correspond to spermatogonia, in spermatocytes and in round spermatids (at protein level). Fetal ovary and fetal testis. Present in all germ cells of seminiferous tubules of the 24-week fetus (at protein level). The Nanos-type zinc finger is composed of two C2HC motifs, each motif binding one molecule of zinc. It is essential for the translation repression activity of the protein. Belongs to the nanos family.