Involved in programmed cell death, also called apoptosis, in both somatic and germ cells (PubMed:11163239, PubMed:6857247, PubMed:1936965, PubMed:15744306, PubMed:16740477, PubMed:18351800, PubMed:26598553, PubMed:27650246, PubMed:12944970). Acts by recruiting ced-6 to phagosomes which enables actin-dependent cytoskeletal reorganization and subsequent engulfment of the apoptotic cell corpse (PubMed:15744306). Has a role in the association of ppk-3 and rab-7 with the phagosomal surface which is necessary for the incorporation of lysosomes to phagosomes during phagosome maturation (PubMed:16740477, PubMed:18351800). Activates the expression of unfolded protein response genes, which are involved in the immune response to live bacteria (PubMed:18606143). Interacts (via C-terminus) with ced-6 (via PTB domain). Colocalizes with ced-6 and actin halos around early apoptotic cells. Temporally colocalizes with dyn-1 during engulfment of cell corpses. Expressed in engulfing cells and syncytium hypodermal cells. Ced-7 is necessary for clustering around cell corpses prior to engulfment. NPXY motif thought to be involved in signal transduction that activates the cell corpse internalization process. Phosphorylation of Tyr-1019, within the YXXL motif, is thought to initiate phagosomal formation. Accumulation of cell corpses (PubMed:26598553). Appears immunocompromised resulting in susceptibility to bacterial infection (PubMed:6857247, PubMed:1936965, PubMed:18606143). Reduced or lack of association of ppk-3 and rab-7 with the phagosomal surface (PubMed:18351800). Defective in the recruitment of lysosomes to phagosomes (PubMed:16740477). Double knockout with the P-granule component pgl-1 results in an increased number of cell corpses in the gonad as compared to the ced-1 single mutant (PubMed:26598553). Conversely, double knockout with pgl-1 or pgl-3 results in reduced somatic cell apoptosis (PubMed:27650246). Double knockout with the synthetic multivulva class B protein hpl-2 results in reduced somatic cell apoptosis at 25 degrees Celsius (PubMed:27650246). Triple knockout with hpl-2 and pgl-1 partially recovers the reduced somatic cell apoptotic cell defect in the ced-1 and hpl-2 double knockout (PubMed:27650246). Triple knockout with hpl-2 and pgl-1 and knockdown with either ced-3 or ced-4 reduces the somatic cell apoptosis defect in the ced-1, hpl-2 and pgl-1 triple knockout (PubMed:27650246). Double knockout with hpl-2 and knockdown with either pgl-1, pgl-3, glh-1 or glh-4 RNAi rescues the reduced somatic cell apoptotic cell defect in the ced-1 and hpl-2 double knockout (PubMed:27650246). Knockout with RNAi-mediated knockdown of synthetic multivulva class B proteins lin-9, lin-35, lin-37 or lin-54 results in reduced somatic cell apoptosis (PubMed:27650246).