Negatively regulates early endosome maturation by binding to and repressing the activity of 14-3-3zeta which prevents the 14-3-3zeta-mediated activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase Pi3K68D. This, in turn, inhibits the Pi3K68D-mediated conversion of phosphatidylinositol to phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate and prevents progression of early endosomes through the maturation process which regulates subsequent steps of phagocytic processing. Interacts with 14-3-3zeta. Expressed in hemocytes. Expression increases from prepupal to adult stages. Mutants reach adulthood and show no overt morphological defects but their hemocytes display a more vacuolated morphology than controls with enlarged endolysosomes which accumulate undigested phagocytic material due to impaired digestion. This leads to decreased resistance to bacterial infection and severely reduced lifespan.