Regulates pharyngeal pumping during feeding. Highly expressed in the pharynx, circumpharyngeal cells, pharyngeal-intestinal valve and a subset of neurons in larval and embryonic stages. Also moderately expressed in the lining of the intestine, coelomocytes, labial process bundles and some hypodermal cells. In adults, it is predominantly expressed in the pharynx, the pharyngeal-intenstinal valve, some circumpharyngeal cells, m3, m4 and m6 pharyngeal muscles, and IL1, OLQ, BAG and ALN neurons. Weaker expression is observed in labial process bundles, coelomocytes, the ventral hypodermal ridge, the vulval hypodermis and the sensory rays of the adult male tail. Worms display a reduction in pharyngeal pumping rates, body length and intestine size, as well as a prolonged egg laying period and smaller brood size.