Has a role in the Wnt signaling pathway controlling the asymmetry of cell divisions during embryogenesis (By similarity). Operates in the AB and EMS cell lineages influencing cell specification (By similarity). Required for body wall muscle development, endoderm development, pop-1 asymmetry and T-cell division asymmetry (By similarity). Component of the beta-catenin-lit-1 complex which promotes the phosphorylation, down-regulation and subcellular relocation of pop-1 (By similarity). Regulates plp-1 nuclear localization in embryos (By similarity). Plays a role in male tail tip morphogenesis (By similarity). ATP + L-seryl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-seryl-[protein] ATP + L-threonyl-[protein] = ADP + H(+) + O-phospho-L-threonyl-[protein] Component of the beta-catenin-lit-1 complex (also called the lit-1/wrm-1 complex or the wrm-1/lit-1 kinase complex) at least composed of lit-1 and wrm-1 (By similarity). Interacts with wrm-1 (via N-terminus); the interaction is direct and activates lit-1 kinase activity which leads to the phosphorylation of pop-1 (By similarity). This promotes pop-1 interaction with par-5 and translocation of pop-1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm (By similarity). Interacts with pop-1 (when phosphorylated on 'Ser-125'); the interaction is dependent on the beta-catenin-lit-1 complex (By similarity). Located in the anterior cell cortex before and during asymmetric cell division. After division, located preferentially in the nucleus of the posterior daughter cell (By similarity). Localizes to the nucleus in hyp9 and hyp10 cells prior to male tail tip morphogenesis (By similarity). Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. Ser/Thr protein kinase family.