Probable serine/threonine-protein kinase required for the completion of molting. May play a role in endocytosis in the hypodermis syncytium. ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] In hyp7 syncytium, localizes in puncta and small tubules near the plasma membrane apical region. Does not co-localize with nekl-3. Expressed in hypodermal cells including in hyp7 syncytium but not in seam cells. Failure to shed the cuticle at the end of the first molt resulting in an arrest at the L1 to L2 transition stage. RNAi-mediated knockdown results in a less severe phenotype characterized by a failure to shed the cuticle only in the middle part of the body at the end of the first molt. In hyp7 syncytium, RNAi-mediated knockdown results in the apical membrane accumulation of lrp-1 and mislocalization of several components of the endocytic machinery. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. NEK Ser/Thr protein kinase family. NIMA subfamily.