Required for the normal progression of embryogenesis and viability of the organism (PubMed:9422779). Plays an indispensable role in establishing embryonic polarity and in recruiting and maintaining par-6 to the periphery, through interaction with par-3 (PubMed:9716526, PubMed:9834192). Required for epithelial cell polarity in the distal spermatheca (PubMed:15151982). Phosphorylates serine residues of num-1 (PubMed:11134025). Required for the expression of antimicrobial peptide nlp-29 in response in response to fungal infection or physical injury (PubMed:19380113). ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Interaction with par-3 required for the peripheral localization of par-6 and to form a par-3/par-6/pkc-3 complex, which is activated when cdc-42 interacts with par-6. Binds avidly to the phosphotyrosine interaction domain (PID) of a novel pkc-3 adapter protein num-1, which enables tethering and targeting of pkc-3 to the cell periphery. Targeted and anchored at the apical surface (villi) of intestinal and pharyngeal cells, and in proximity with the cortical actin cytoskeleton that lies under the plasma membrane. Tightly bound to organelles/cytoskeleton in six of the seven developmental stages. Accumulation in cytoplasm is restricted to L1 larvae and adults. Colocalized with par-3 at the anterior cortex of the 1-cell embryo. Abundantly expressed in the anterior and posterior pharyngeal bulbs, the pharyngeal-intestinal valve, vulval cells, and a region at the posterior end of the intestine that corresponds to site of co-assembly of the intestinal-rectal valve and anal sphincter, and depressor muscles. Modest expression apparent in four hypodermal cells that provide cuticle and muscle anchorage in the tail. Strong expression observed in discrete patches and spots in vulval cells and in somatic cells of the spermatheca. Transiently coexpressed and colocalized with par-6 and par-3, asymmetrically in the developing somatic gonad, including the spermathecal precursor cells of L4 larvae. Expressed throughout development, at highest level in the L1 stage and lowest in L3. Peripheral staining pattern in early embryos. The staining in 1-cell embryos is weak and uniform just after the completion of meiosis, but increases in intensity and becomes concentrated at the anterior periphery during pronuclear migration. The peripheral staining becomes restricted to about 50% embryo length during the pronuclear meeting and pronuclear fusion stage. By early anaphase, the staining extends posteriorly beyond the midline of the zygote and covers about 60% of the total length of embryos. In 2- and 4-cell stages, staining is uniform at the periphery of the AB cell, its daughters and the EMS cell, but peripheral staining in P1 and P2 is restricted to the boundaries with other blastomeres. Residues 212-224 are capable of binding the PID domain of num-1 isoform a and isoform c. Worms show defects in embryogenesis. Mutant embryos show defects in their polarity and cleavage patterns which disrupt hatching (PubMed:9716526). RNAi-mediated knockdown causes a complete loss of nlp-29 expression following fungal infection by D.coniospora or physical injury (PubMed:19380113). Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. AGC Ser/Thr protein kinase family. PKC subfamily.