Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase that operates in the calcium-triggered CaMKK-CaMK1 signaling cascade which results in transcriptional activation (PubMed:10428833, PubMed:12231504, PubMed:26725111). Transcriptional activation occurs at least in part through phosphorylation of crh-1 (PubMed:10428833, PubMed:12231504). Regulates gene expression, sensory morphology, and function of the AFD thermosensory neurons (PubMed:10428833, PubMed:14711416, PubMed:25467978). Involved in long-term adaptation of AFD neurons to temperatures warmer than the initial acclimatized cultivation temperature (PubMed:25467978). Acts in the FLP thermal nociceptors to moderate the responsiveness to noxious heat and controls neuropeptide release from FLP neurons in response to temperature elevations (PubMed:25467982). Regulates the dauer decision, the decision of the larvae to enter into the alternative stress-resistant and long-lived dauer developmental stage, based on the feeding state, primarily in the AWC sensory neurons. Acts non cell-autonomously in the AWC neurons to regulate expression of the daf-28 insulin-like peptide and cell-autonomously in the ASI sensory neurons to regulate expression of the growth promoting daf-7 in a food-regulated manner (PubMed:26335407). Plays a role in memory-based thermal response of an individual AFD neuron cell (PubMed:26725111). Involved in chemotaxis response in AWC neurons to attractant 2-heptanone, a volatile organic compound emitted by the nematode pathogenic bacterium B.nematocida B16 (PubMed:27660389). Plays a role in a type of aversive gustatory associated learning called salt avoidance learning via regulation of crh-1 signaling and the promotion of long-term memory formation (PubMed:30779740). Represses transcription of glutamate receptor glr-1 in the nucleus basally and in response to change in synaptic activity (PubMed:27462879). ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Activated by Ca(2+)/calmodulin (PubMed:10428833, PubMed:26725111). Binding of calmodulin results in a conformational change that generates functional binding sites for both substrate and ATP, and thus relieves autoinhibition and lowers the Km of substrate binding. Must be phosphorylated by ckk-1 to be maximally active but this does not appear to be required for activity in AFD neurons (PubMed:10428833). Localization is regulated by temperature in thermosensory neurons (PubMed:25467978, PubMed:25467982). Localizes to the nucleus upon elevated temperature shift (PubMed:25467978). Translocates from cytoplasm to the nucleus of FLP thermal nociceptors during thermal adaptation (PubMed:25467982). Translocates transiently from cytoplasm to the nucleus of AWC sensory neurons in response to food withdrawal. Prolonged starvation results in cytoplasmic enrichment (PubMed:26335407). The distribution between cytoplasm and nucleus is regulated by synaptic glutamate receptor glr-1 levels in PVC neurons, accumulating in the nucleus with increasing glr-1 (PubMed:27462879). Expressed in head and tail neurons and vulval muscles (PubMed:12231504). Throughout the nervous system. Detected in neurites and neuronal cell bodies (PubMed:25467982). The autoinhibitory domain overlaps with the calmodulin binding region and interacts in the inactive folded state with the catalytic domain as a pseudosubstrate. Changes in thermosensory behavior and temperature-dependent defects in AFD-specific gene expression (PubMed:10428833, PubMed:14711416, PubMed:25467978, PubMed:26725111). Decreased threshold for temperature-evoked activity in the AFD neurons. Defects in negative thermotaxis and isothermal tracking behaviors (PubMed:25467978). Defective in thermal avoidance adaptation. Aberrant thermotaxis at innocuous temperatures (PubMed:25467982). Inappropriate dauer formation under well-fed conditions. Reduced expression of growth promoting daf-7 in ASI sensory neurons (PubMed:26335407). Changes in thermosensory response of AIY neurons (PubMed:26725111). Increased transcription of glutamate receptor glr-1 (PubMed:27462879). Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. CAMK Ser/Thr protein kinase family. CaMK subfamily.