Transcription factor which regulates the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism and autophagy in response to nutrient availability, bacterial pore-forming toxins or heat shock (PubMed:23604316, PubMed:23925298, PubMed:27001890, PubMed:27875098, PubMed:28198373). Binds to the E-box motif 5'-CACGTG-3' (PubMed:19632181). Under fasting conditions, binds to the promoter and activates the expression of lipase genes lipl-2, lipl-3 and lipl-5, and to a lesser extent, lipl-1, thereby regulating lipolysis (PubMed:23604316). Involved in modulating longevity in response to TOR signaling, dietary restriction, germline signaling, heat shock and the insulin-like signaling pathway (PubMed:23925298, PubMed:27001890, PubMed:24882217, PubMed:28198373). Involved in the immune response to infection by the S.aureus bacterium, probably acting downstream of the protein kinase dkf-1, leading to the transcriptional activation of host defense genes (PubMed:24882217, PubMed:27184844). May also play a role in lysosomal biogenesis in response to nutrient availability (PubMed:23604316). Homodimer. Localization to nucleus enhanced during fasting and on mutant backgrounds involved in modulating longevity: glp-1, let-363 (tor), eat-2, daf-2, clk-1 or rsks-1 (PubMed:23604316, PubMed:23925298). Nuclear localization abolished on mml-1;glp-1 or mxl-2;glp-1 mutant backgrounds (PubMed:27001890). Localization to nucleus enhanced as a result of bacterial pore-forming toxin treatment, or heat shock (PubMed:27875098, PubMed:28198373). (Microbial infection) Localization to nucleus enriched rapidly after Staphylococcus aureus infection. Expressed in the intestine and at lower levels in other tissues, including the spermatheca and the vulva. Expressed throughout development (PubMed:24882217). In L4 larvae and young adults, expression is highest in the intestine, rectal epithelial cells, vulval epithelial cells, spermathecae, and pharynx and absent from the gonads (PubMed:24882217). Up-regulated by fasting. RNAi-mediated knockdown in adults reduces lifespan on eat-2, daf-2 and rsks-1 mutant backgrounds (PubMed:23925298). RNAi-mediated knockdown during the fourth larval stage reduces lifespan on a clk-1 mutant background (PubMed:23925298). RNAi-mediated knockdown reduces the expression of mml-1 on a glp-1 mutant background (PubMed:27001890). RNAi-mediated knockdown increases expression of lmp-1 and sqst-1 (PubMed:23925298). Belongs to the MiT/TFE family.