Positively regulates the activity of the minus-end directed microtubule motor protein dynein. May enhance dynein-mediated microtubule sliding by targeting dynein to the microtubule plus end. Required for several dynein- and microtubule-dependent processes such as nuclear migration during cell division (PubMed:11685578, PubMed:15331665). Part of a complex with nud-2, which is recruited to the nuclear envelope by unc-83, where, in turn, it recruits dynein to the nuclear surface and regulates nuclear migration in hypodermal precursor cells (PubMed:20005871). Plays a role in GABAergic synaptic vesicle localization in the ventral nerve cord (PubMed:16996038). Required for neuronal cell differentiation (PubMed:15254012). Component of a dynein-regulating complex composed of at least lis-1 and nud-2 (PubMed:20005871). Interacts with nud-2; the interaction is direct (PubMed:16996038). Localizes to the plus end of microtubules (By similarity). Concentrates in the vicinity of microtubule asters, kinetochores, the cell cortex and the perinuclear region (PubMed:15331665). Probably recruited to the nuclear envelope by unc-83 (PubMed:20005871). Expressed in all classes of neurons in the ventral cord (PubMed:11685578, PubMed:16996038). Expressed in the multinucleate spermathecal valves and adult seam cells (PubMed:11685578). Dimerization mediated by the LisH domain may be required to activate dynein. Defects lead to convulsions mimicking epilepsy, possibly due to altered neurotransmitter function (PubMed:15254012). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in arrest at the 50-100 cell stage, whereby egg and sperm pronuclei fails to migrate (PubMed:11685578). RNAi-mediated knockdown prevents the sperm-donated centrosome from leaving the posterior cortex in 1-cell embryos (PubMed:20599902). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in an abnormal distribution of GABAergic synaptic vesicles at synaptic termini of the ventral nerve cord (PubMed:16996038). RNAi-mediated knockdown results in nuclear migration defects in hyp7 hypodermal precursor cells, but only in a small number of animals (PubMed:20005871). RNAi-mediated knockdown in a pam-1 mutant background restores anterior-posterior polarity (PubMed:20599902). Belongs to the WD repeat LIS1/nudF family.