Together with the zinc finger protein ztf-16, plays a role in gonadogenesis, specifically in somatic gonad precursor cell development (PubMed:12756172, PubMed:15294864, PubMed:20026024, PubMed:24402584). This is possibly by regulating tra-1 gene expression (PubMed:15294864). Required for proper gonadal primordium assembly and somatic gonad precursor cell morphology. Expressed during embryogenesis (at protein level) (PubMed:20026024). First expressed shortly after the assembly of the gonad primordium (PubMed:15294864). Expressed in somatic gonadal precursor (SGP) cells in embryos and L1 stage larvae (PubMed:20026024, PubMed:24402584). Expressed in daughter cells of SGP cells throughout the L1 larval stage (PubMed:20026024). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in abnormal gonadal development in 10% of animals whereby gonads fail to divide or grow in size (PubMed:15294864). This abnormality is enhanced in a tra-1 (e1099) mutant background and is accompanied by masculinization of gonadal tissues (PubMed:15294864). Belongs to the krueppel C2H2-type zinc-finger protein family.