Regulates chemoreceptor expression by phosphorylating the hda-4 class II histone deacetylase (HDAC) and inhibiting the gene repression functions of hda-4 and the mef-2 transcription factor, enabling the correct sensing and transduction of food signals. Role in determining body size, the dauer decision and serotonin-mediated egg laying. May modulate the Sma/Mab pathway and regulates development in the later larval stages. ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Interacts with tax-6. Nuclear in larval stage. Predominantly cytoplasmic in the adult but translocates into the nucleus following heat shock. Primarily neuronal, with additional expression in body wall muscle and hypodermal cells. Among neuronal cells, expressed in multiple sensory neurons and interneurons in the lateral, anterior, and lumbar ganglia, as well as in motor neurons in the ventral motor cord. Present in the AWB and AWC olfactory neurons. Expressed throughout all stages of postembryonic development. Observed in the intestine and in cells in the tail during L1, L3 and L4. Autophosphorylated. Elevated cAMP levels appears to act via PKA to directly or indirectly phosphorylate multiple sites on kin-29 and inhibit function. Defective in the expression of a set of chemoreceptor genes, and exhibit characteristics associated with altered sensory signaling, including increased lifespan, decreased body size, and deregulated entry into the dauer developmental stage. Exhibit defects in food-induced quiescence behavior. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. CAMK Ser/Thr protein kinase family. SNF1 subfamily.