Catalytic subunit of the N-terminal acetyltransferase A (NatA) complex which displays alpha (N-terminal) acetyltransferase activity (By similarity). Plays a role in regulating larval development, metabolism and longevity. Functions downstream or alongside daf-3, daf-12 and daf-16 in the dauer formation pathway. Functions upstream of daf-15 to enable animal development. acetyl-CoA + N-terminal glycyl-[protein] = CoA + H(+) + N-terminal N(alpha)-acetylglycyl-[protein] acetyl-CoA + N-terminal L-alanyl-[protein] = CoA + H(+) + N-terminal N(alpha)-acetyl-L-alanyl-[protein] acetyl-CoA + N-terminal L-seryl-[protein] = CoA + H(+) + N-terminal N(alpha)-acetyl-L-seryl-[protein] acetyl-CoA + N-terminal L-valyl-[protein] = CoA + H(+) + N-terminal N(alpha)-acetyl-L-valyl-[protein] acetyl-CoA + N-terminal L-cysteinyl-[protein] = CoA + H(+) + N-terminal N(alpha)-acetyl-L-cysteinyl-[protein] acetyl-CoA + N-terminal L-threonyl-[protein] = CoA + H(+) + N-terminal N(alpha)-acetyl-L-threonyl-[protein] Component of the N-terminal acetyltransferase A (NatA) complex. Expressed in head and tail hypodermal cells, hypodermal seam cells, pharynx, intestine and head and tail neurons. Expressed from larval stage L1 to adulthood. The majority of animals die within five days following dauer-like arrest, but surviving animals grow to the L4 larval developmental stage or adulthood. Animals display a dauer-like phenotype in response to pheromone and starvation, form dauer alae and have a constricted pharynx. Unlike dauer defective animals, these animals are not temperature sensitive and do not complete dauer morphogenesis. Animals have an increased propensity to accumulate fat. RNAi-mediated knock-down also induces a dauer-like phenotype and fat accumulation. However, knock-down does not influence the lifespan of animals. Belongs to the acetyltransferase family. ARD1 subfamily.