Involved in pharyngeal muscle development and ensures pharyngeal grinder function during feeding (PubMed:8462849, PubMed:21750263, PubMed:30965033). Plays a role in the defense against the accumulation of ingested live pathogenic bacteria in the intestine (PubMed:30965033). Has a role in the determination of life span (PubMed:30965033). Expressed in most tissues including the hypodermal, muscle, neuronal, vulval and intestinal tissues (PubMed:30965033). Isoform a: Expressed in the pharynx, nerve ring, intestine, neurons and ventral nerve cord (PubMed:30965033). Viable, but have an extended lifespan (PubMed:30965033). There is a decrease in early progeny production, resulting in smaller self-fertile brood size, and an increase in late progeny production, which results in an extended self-fertile reproductive lifespan (PubMed:30965033). Defective pharyngeal grinder positioning, which results in feeding defects (PubMed:8462849). Animals also have protruding male spicules (PubMed:8462849).