Regulates autophagy (PubMed:12958363). Together with phosphatidyl-3-phosphate kinase vps-34, acts as a core subunit of the PI3K complex that mediates formation of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P), thereby regulating membrane trafficking (PubMed:16111945, PubMed:21183797, PubMed:26783301). In association with sorf-1 and sorf-2, negatively regulates phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate in early endosomes to allow for the conversion to late endosomes (PubMed:26783301). Involved in the clearance of engulfed apoptotic cell corpses (PubMed:16111945, PubMed:21183797). Together with ced-9, negatively regulates somatic and germline apoptosis (PubMed:17890369). Plays a role in endosome-to-Golgi retrograde transport of mig-14 (PubMed:21183797). In a daf-18/PTEN- and skn-1/Nrf-dependent manner, promotes germline stem cell proliferation during late and adult stages, probably by ensuring cell survival and cell cycle progression (PubMed:28285998). Required for embryonic development and L3/L4 molting during larval development (PubMed:16111945). Required for normal dauer morphogenesis and lifespan (PubMed:12958363, PubMed:17204841). Plays a role in male tail ray pattern formation (PubMed:17890369). Required for normal survival when exposed to pathogenic bacteria S.typhimurium by promoting autophagic degradation of intracellular S.typhimurium (PubMed:19667176). Interacts with ced-9 (PubMed:16111945). Interacts with vps-34 (PubMed:16111945, PubMed:26783301). Interacts with sorf-1 and sorf-2 (PubMed:26783301). Co-localizes with rme-8, a component of the retromer complex, on endosomes. Expressed in PVM touch receptor neurons, the ventral nerve cord and in the nerve ring. Highly expressed in embryos and to a lesser extent in larvae (PubMed:16111945). Expressed in pharynx, seam cells and ventral nerve cord neurons at the L1 and L4 larval stages (PubMed:12958363, PubMed:16111945). Expressed in vulva cell precursors and somatic gonad at the L2 larval stage and in vulva at the L4 larval stage (PubMed:12958363). Embryonic lethal with few surviving larvae which fail to carry out the L3/L4 molt and few surviving adults which are sterile (PubMed:16111945, PubMed:21183797). At the L3 larval stage, accumulates vacuoles in intestine, hypodermis, pharynx and coelomocytes (PubMed:21183797). Abnormal accumulation of mig-14, lmp-1, and rab-7 on these vacuoles (PubMed:21183797). Mislocalization of several components of the retromer complex, including rme-8, snx-1 and vps-35 (PubMed:21183797). Impaired fluid phase endocytosis in coelomocytes (PubMed:21183797). Double knockout with either sorf-1 or sorf-2 results in smaller endosomes and an irregular distribution pattern of PtdIns3P in the cytoplasm (PubMed:26783301). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in reduced stem cell proliferation in the germline during larval development (PubMed:28285998). RNAi-mediated knockdown at the L4 larval stage causes a slight decrease in lifespan and multiple defects in the progeny which fails to produce viable embryos (PubMed:12958363, PubMed:16111945, PubMed:17204841). In addition, causes an increase in the number of apoptotic cell corpses at various embryonic stages and in the gonads (PubMed:16111945, PubMed:21183797). Reduces phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate levels on intracellular membrane vesicles and impairs endocytosis (PubMed:16111945, PubMed:21183797). Prevents necrotic cell death of CEP and ADE dopamin neurons induced by neurotoxin 6-hydroxidopamine (PubMed:17327275). Impaired survival when exposed to pathogenic bacteria S.typhimurium which is associated with the persistence of intact bacteria-containing vesicles in intestinal cells, the formation of few autophagosomes and autolysosomes followed by a progressive destruction of intestinal cells (PubMed:19667176). In addition, causes a reduction in mig-14 and rme-8 association with puncta structures as well as an increase in mig-14 protein levels (PubMed:21183797). RNAi-mediated knockdown causes abnormalities in constitutive dauer formation in daf-2 e1370 mutant including uneven distribution of hyperpigmented granules in the intestine and a reduction in fat storage and radial constriction elongation of the body and the pharynx (PubMed:12958363). In addition, prevents increase in lifespan and the formation of autophagosomes in lateral hypodermal seam cells in daf-2 e1370 mutant (PubMed:12958363, PubMed:19667176). Reduces the number of vacuolated (dying) touch receptor neurons and restores touch sensitivity in mec-4 u231, deg-1 u506 or deg-3 u662 mutants (PubMed:17327275). Belongs to the beclin family.