Predicted to enable DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific and RNA polymerase II transcription regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding activity. Involved in gonad development. Acts upstream of or within gonadal mesoderm development and positive regulation of muscle cell differentiation. Predicted to be located in nucleus. Expressed in several structures, including Daa; Dap; Dpa; Dpp; and somatic gonad precursor. Is an ortholog of human HAND1 (heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 1).