Orphan nuclear receptor (Potential). Required for embryonic and larval morphogenesis and probably for seam cell positioning and migration. Localized in the nucleus from the one-cell stage of development onwards. Localizes to the nuclear periphery of all cells. Expressed from embryogenesis onwards with high expression during the larval stages of development, peaking at the L3 stage and decreasing at the L4 stage of larval development. Ubiquitously expressed, but expression in seam cells begins in embryonic precursors soon after fertilization and is most prominent in larval stages of development. Expression is also prominent in the germ line during the L1 stage of larval development. Also expressed in pharyngeal gland cells, VC4 and VC5 neurons, and in the hermaphrodite uterine vulval uv1 cells. RNAi-mediated knockdown results in arrest at the two-fold stage of embryogenesis in the majority of embryos. These embryos have incomplete ventral closure and morphological defects including elongation defects, and either absent or irregularly placed seam cells in the head and tail regions. Surviving larvae also exhibit morphological defects and contain vacuoles. Belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor family.