Metalloprotease (By similarity). Acts together with protease adm-4 and in a cell autonomous manner to facilitate lin-12/Notch signaling during developmental cell fate decision, including anchor cell/ventral uterine precursor cell decision and vulva precursor cell specification (PubMed:9428412, PubMed:9409830, PubMed:16197940). By modulating glp-1/Notch signaling, plays a role in germline development (PubMed:16197940). Probably by modulating BMP-like Sma/Mab signaling via the shedding of unc-40 ectodomain, involved in the regulation of body size and mesoderm development (PubMed:28068334). Probably by shedding ephrin efn-4, regulates axon guidance of SDQL neuron during development (PubMed:26903502). Endopeptidase of broad specificity. Binds 1 zinc ion per subunit. May interact with tetraspanin tsp-12; the interaction promotes sup-17 cell membrane localization. Localizes to the basolateral cell membrane in embryos. Expressed in the germline. Expressed in embryos, larvae and in adults. Expressed in the developing vulva at the L4 larval stage and in the hypodermis at the L3 larval stage. RNAi-mediated knockdown in a glp-1 (ar202) constitutively active mutant background restores fertility.