Inward rectifier potassium channels are characterized by a greater tendency to allow potassium to flow into the cell rather than out of it. Required for modulation of the activity of the hermaphrodite-specific neurons (HSNs) by the G-protein coupled neuropeptide receptor egl-6 which in turn controls egg-laying behavior. Detected in perikarya and neurites of HSNs. Expressed in neurons in the head and tail with no expression detected in non-neuronal cells in these regions. Also detected in the egg-laying system of adult hermaphordites with strong expression in the HSN motor neurons and weak expression in vulval muscles. Strongly suppresses the egg-laying defect caused by a mutant form of egl-6. Very mild defect in egg-laying behavior when deleted in a wild-type background. Belongs to the inward rectifier-type potassium channel (TC 1.A.2.1) family.