Directs gonadal sheath cell differentiation and function (PubMed:9405097). Also directs gonad migration and plays a role in specifying the differentiated phenotypes of epidermal cells during postembryonic development (PubMed:7958868). Plays a role in oogenesis, regulating a sheath cell signal that causes oocytes to maintain diakinesis arrest during meiosis (PubMed:7958868). Negatively regulates oocyte maturation, ovulation and MAPK activation in oocytes when sperm are not available for fertilization (PubMed:12533508). May be recruited by akir-1 to the promoter regions of antimicrobial peptide genes to control gene expression in response to fungal infection (PubMed:30036395). Interacts with akir-1. Expressed in the gonadal sheath cells that signal the oocyte, but not in the oocyte. First expressed in embryos at the three-fold stage (PubMed:7958868). After hatching expressed in the syncytial hypodermal cells located throughout the body, pharyngeal muscle, seam cells P hypodermal blast cells, body muscle and anterior touch cells (PubMed:7958868). Expressed in the distal tip cell of the somatic ginad from the L2 stage of larval development through to the adult stage (PubMed:7958868). Viable, but some animals exhibit sterile and lethal phenotypes including hermaphrodite sterility, embryonic lethality and larval arrest (PubMed:7958868). Defective ovulation and terminal differentiation of oocytes, which result from a delay or an inability to complete meiosis during oogenesis (PubMed:7958868, PubMed:9405097). Defects in gonadal migration (PubMed:7958868). Defective sheath cell differentiation in terms of cell shape and position and defective functions which include weaker sheath cell contractions (PubMed:9405097). Abnormal hypodermal cell differentiation (PubMed:7958868). Defective MAPK activation in oocytes in the presence and absence of sperm (PubMed:12533508). RNAi-mediated knockdown reduces survival following fungal infection by D.coniospora (PubMed:30036395). Belongs to the POU transcription factor family.