Involved in cuticle formation and ensures cuticle shedding during larval development (PubMed:19357781). Plays a role in maintaining the hypodermis (PubMed:19357781). In association with vps-39, may play a role in vesicle tethering (PubMed:19357781). Interacts with vps-39. Temporally expressed in embryos and larvae (PubMed:19357781). Expression peaks prior to each larval molt (PubMed:19357781). In L4 larvae, expressed in the hypodermis, in the vulval and anal epithelium, in the excretory pore, the seam cells and at the seam cell boundary (PubMed:19357781). Not expressed in adults (PubMed:19357781). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in a squat body statue referred to as a dumpy phenotype, uncoordinated movements, and while animals can move in a sinusoidal manner, they cannot progress forward or backward, (referred to as a skiddy phenotype) (PubMed:19357781). Animals also display cuticle formation defects where the cuticle blisters at the point where the outer layers dissociate from the body, and furthermore the cuticle fails to shed and wraps tightly around the body (PubMed:19357781). In 10% of animals, the cuticle tapers in the posterior region of the body (PubMed:19357781). RNAi-mediated knockdown also results the formation of vesicle-like structures in the hypodermis, thickening of the hypodermis and in its degeneration, and as a consequence as hermaphrodites reach gravidity, the vulva protrudes and eventually ruptures, leading to death (PubMed:19357781). In addition, animals display seam cell fusion and function defects resulting from bifurcation of alae (PubMed:19357781). RNAi-mediated knockdown in males results in sensory ray defects where the rays fail to fully extend, and a reduced sized cuticular fan (PubMed:19357781).