Non-receptor tyrosine-protein kinase which plays a role in endoderm development by controlling spindle orientation in EMS blastomere, probably downstream of receptor mes-1. Also involved in embryonic body morphogenesis, especially in the formation of the pharynx and the intestine (PubMed:12110172, PubMed:12527374, PubMed:19210548). May be dispensable for pharyngeal muscle organization in the adult (PubMed:19210548). Probably phosphorylates netrin receptor unc-5, to regulate distal tip cell (DTC) migration during gonad development and in axon repulsion (PubMed:16024786, PubMed:16251208). Plays a role in the migration of the QR neuroblast, a precursor of the AVM neuron, and in the migration of the axon cone of AVM, ALM, CAN and PVM neurons (PubMed:16251208, PubMed:22293500). May act downstream of migratory protein mig-13 to control AVM neuron migration (PubMed:22293500). Probably downstream of integrin ina-1/pat-3, plays a role in the clearance of apoptotic cells during mid-embryogenesis (PubMed:20226672). ATP + L-tyrosyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-tyrosyl-[protein] May be activated by autophosphorylation (PubMed:19210548, PubMed:20226672). May be inhibited by csk-1-mediated phosphorylation (PubMed:12527374). Interacts (via SH2 domain and SH3 domain) with unc-5 (via cytoplasmic domain); the interaction requires kinase activity (PubMed:16024786). Interacts (when activated and phosphorylated at 'Tyr-416') with ina-1 (via cytoplasmic domain) and with ced-2 (via SH2 domain) (PubMed:20226672). Co-localizes with ina-1 at the site of the phagosomal cup formation during apoptotic cell engulfment. Expressed in some neurons (ASE, ADF, AVA, AUA, RMDV and BAG) in the head region, anchor cell, vulva, cells around anus, body wall muscle, pharyngeal muscles in procorpus and metacorpus (PubMed:12527374). Expressed in gonadal distal tip cells (PubMed:12527374, PubMed:16251208). May be phosphorylated on Tyr-528 by csk-1. RNAi-mediated knockdown causes a growth arrest between gastrulation and the 2-fold stage and an increase in number of apoptotic cell corpses at the comma and 1.5-fold stages (PubMed:12527374, PubMed:16024786, PubMed:20226672). The few hermaphrodite animals reaching adulthood have gonadal defects characterized by the formation of a straight gonad resulting from defects in distal tip cells migration during the first and second turns (PubMed:16251208, PubMed:16024786). Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. Tyr protein kinase family. SRC subfamily.