In the 1-cell embryo, probably together with gpr-2, controls nuclear rotation and spindle elongation during mitosis (PubMed:14534135). Complex of gpr-1 and gpr-2, in association with lin-5, activates G-protein signaling to affect mitotic spindle force (PubMed:12730122). Polarity determinants (par genes) may regulate lin-5/gpr-1/gpr-2/goa-1 locally to create the asymmetric forces that drive spindle movement (PubMed:12730122). Interacts with gpr-1, lin-5 and GDP-bound goa-1. Located to the spindle and cell cortex when in complex with lin-5 and gpr-2 (PubMed:12730122). During early embryogenesis, cortical localization changes with the cell cycle. In one-cell embryo, uniform cortical localization from prophase to metaphase and posterior enrichment during anaphase. In the 2-cell embryo, uniform cortical localization in AB blastomere and posterior cortical enrichment in P1 blastomere during interphase. In P1, uniform cortical localization from prophase to early anaphase and then posterior cortical enrichment during late anaphase and telophase (PubMed:14534135, PubMed:12730122). Cortical localization and asymmetrical distribution is regulated by the csnk-1-mediated regulation of pkk-1 (PubMed:18694560). Enriched at the contact site between EMS and P2 from prophase to prometaphase (PubMed:14534135). Simultaneous RNAi-mediated knockdown of both gpr-1 and gpr-2 causes, in the 1-cell embryo, a decrease in nuclear and spindle movements during prophase, reduced asymmetric spindle elongation during anaphase and mispositioning of nuclei after cell division.