Non-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) ionotropic glutamate receptor (PubMed:7477293). L-glutamate acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter at many synapses in the central nervous system (PubMed:7477293). The postsynaptic actions of glutamate are mediated by a variety of receptors that are named according to their selective agonists (PubMed:7477293). May contribute to a sensory discrimination between mechanical and chemical stimuli (PubMed:7477293). Plays a role in controlling movement in response to environmental cues such as food availability and mechanosensory stimulation such as the nose touch response (PubMed:27223098). In AIB interneurons, promotes omega turns, a movement that frequently follows backwards locomotion or 'reversals' in response to environmental cues while possibly playing an inhibitory role in alternative neurons to inhibit omega turns (PubMed:27223098). Interacts with sol-1 (PubMed:14749834). Interacts with cni-1; the interaction negatively regulates export of glr-1 from the endoplasmic reticulum to synapses (PubMed:24094107). Interacts with usp-46; the interaction results in deubiquitination of glr-1 (PubMed:24356955). Partially co-localizes with lin-10 at synapses (PubMed:17671168). Trafficking between the plasma membrane and recycling endosomes in the ventral nerve cord is regulated by lin-10 (PubMed:17671168, PubMed:22252129). During hypoxia, accumulates in enlarged endosome-like compartments (PubMed:22252129). Co-localizes with rab-6.2 at or near punctate structures in the neuron cell body and along the ventral cord dendrites (PubMed:22213799). Command interneurons of the locomotory control circuit (AIB, AVA, AVB, AVD, AVE and PVC) and motor neurons (RMD, RIM, SMD, AVG, PVQ and URY). Ubiquitinated. Deubiquitinated by usp-46 which prevents its degradation. Glycosylated. Decreased frequency of reversals, suppression of hyperreversal phenotype of cni-1 mutants, decreased tactile response and increased osmotic avoidance (PubMed:24094107). Overall, display increased omega turn frequency following reversals, however deletion in AIB interneurons specifically results in decreased omega turn frequency (PubMed:27223098). Decreased nose touch responses (PubMed:27223098). Belongs to the glutamate-gated ion channel (TC 1.A.10.1) family.