Involved in the daf-2/insulin receptor-like transduction pathway, which controls longevity and prevents developmental arrest at the dauer stage (PubMed:10364160, PubMed:21980302). Phosphorylates and activates sgk-1, akt-1 and akt-2 (PubMed:15068796). ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Interacts directly with sgk-1, akt-1 and akt-2. Expressed in late stage embryos and throughout life. At L1, expressed in neurons, intestinal cells and hypodermal cells. In adults, expressed in the somatic gonad. The PIF-pocket is a small lobe in the catalytic domain required by the enzyme for the binding to the hydrophobic motif of its substrates. It is an allosteric regulatory site that can accommodate small compounds acting as allosteric inhibitors. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. AGC Ser/Thr protein kinase family. PDPK1 subfamily.