Serine/threonine protein kinase involved in autophagy (PubMed:12626495, PubMed:17557329). Involved in the control of autophagic vacuolar cell death (PubMed:15358773, PubMed:16810325). Required for normal survival when exposed to pathogenic bacteria S.typhimurium by promoting autophagic degradation of intracellular S.typhimurium (PubMed:19667176). ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Homodimer. Forms a ternary complex with ATG13 and ATG17. Impaired survival when exposed to pathogenic bacteria S.typhimurium associated with the accumulation of S.typhimuriumin in large vacuoles which fail to undergo autophagy. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. Ser/Thr protein kinase family. APG1/unc-51/ULK1 subfamily.