Transcription factor that binds a motif with the core sequence 5'-GCGTA-3' in the promoter of various genes (PubMed:11476572, PubMed:30890567). During development, required for cell fate specification probably by promoting or repressing expression of genes involved in specific cell fate (PubMed:30890567, PubMed:11476572, PubMed:7649393). Involved in head epidermal morphogenesis (PubMed:7659159). Involved in gonadal distal tip cell (DTC) migration, during which modulates expression of the integrin alpha genes, pat-2 and ina-1 (PubMed:10388818, PubMed:17606640, PubMed:15579687). Regulates ventral and dorsal cephalic sheath (CEPsh) glia differentiation and expression of transcription factor hlh-17 in CEPsh glia (PubMed:18508862). Plays a role in establishing unequal cytokinesis and cell fate specification in male-specific postembryonic blast cell B (PubMed:7649393). May cooperate with the phosphatase eya-1 and transcription factor ceh-32 to regulate the transcription factor ets-5 (PubMed:30890567). Transcription factor involved in head epidermal morphogenesis and required for normal cell fate in anterior lateral epidermal blast (seam) cells (PubMed:7659159, PubMed:15579687). Required for the generation or differentiation of neurons of the anterior ganglion, probably acting upstream of unc-86 (PubMed:8647436). Represses BAG sensory neuron fate in non-BAG cells, probably through cooperation with the phosphatase eya-1 and transcription factor ceh-32 (PubMed:30890567). May be involved in regulating the generation of dopaminergic neurons (PubMed:21079745). May cooperate with hlh-17 to preferentially regulate expression of hlh-17 in ventral CEPsh glia (PubMed:18508862). Transcription factor that acts within the male-specific genital sensilla (simple sense organs) known as rays to determine their identity (PubMed:7659160, PubMed:1782863, PubMed:15579687). Promotes BAG sensory neuron fate in a cell-autonomous manner (PubMed:30890567). Required for function of chemosensory BAG neurons (PubMed:30890567). Nuclear localization is temporally and spatially regulated in two sets of neuronal sublineages. Expressed widely in head epidermal cells and neurons, including BAG sensory neurons. Not expressed in BAG neurons. Expressed in BAG neurons. Expressed in the anterior part of comma-stage embryos (PubMed:11476572, PubMed:18313275). In larvae, expressed strongly in almost all anterior hypodermal cells and weakly in many head neurons (PubMed:7659159, PubMed:18313275). Expressed in the gonadal DTCs during ventral migration in hermaphrodite L4 larvae (PubMed:17606640, PubMed:18313275). Expressed in the male hindgut, in B.a and Y.p sensory organ precursors, from the early L2 and until the mid L3 larval stages (PubMed:18313275). Expression diminishes in the B.a lineage during late L4 tail morphogenesis, and is absent in adults (PubMed:18313275). Expression in the Y.p lineage diminishes in the mid L3 stage (PubMed:18313275). Male hindgut expression is restricted to specific lineages in a lin-48 and egl-38 dependent manner (PubMed:18313275). First expressed at about 5 hours of embryogenesis in 20-30 anterior dorsal cells, corresponding to the hypodermal cells of the head, and lateral sets of about 10 cells, of which some are probably future head neurons (PubMed:7659159). By the 1.5-fold stage, expressed in hypodermal and neuronal cells in a broad region of the head (PubMed:7659159). Expressed in RS.a and RB.p in late larval stage L3, in ray 6 and ray 8 cells in late L4, in neurons descended from P11.a in the preanal ganglion in L4 males and head hypodermis and a pair of bilaterally symmetrical neurons in the head anterior of the nerve ring in L4 males (at protein level) (PubMed:7659160, PubMed:9858725). Also expressed in seminal vesicle cells in late L4 males (at protein level) (PubMed:9858725). RNAi-mediated knockdown causes defects in gonadal distal tip cell migration (PubMed:17606640). RNAi-mediated knockdown reduces expression of the integrin alpha pat-2 in gonadal DTCs in about 70% of individuals and in 90% on a vab-3 mutant background (PubMed:17606640). RNAi-mediated knockdown increases expression of the integrin alpha ina-1 in gonadal DTCs in hermaphrodites (PubMed:17606640). RNAi-mediated knockdown induces generation of additional dopaminergic neurons (PubMed:21079745). BAG sensory neuron-specific RNAi-mediated knockdown reduces expression of receptor-type guanylyl cyclase gcy-9 (PubMed:30890567). Belongs to the paired homeobox family. Probable cloning artifact.