Component of the 26S proteasome, a multiprotein complex involved in the ATP-dependent degradation of ubiquitinated proteins (PubMed:30265660). This complex plays a key role in the maintenance of protein homeostasis by removing misfolded or damaged proteins, which could impair cellular functions, and by removing proteins whose functions are no longer required (PubMed:30265660). Therefore, the proteasome participates in numerous cellular processes, including cell cycle progression, apoptosis, or DNA damage repair (By similarity). Belongs to the heterohexameric ring of AAA (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities) proteins that unfolds ubiquitinated target proteins that are concurrently translocated into a proteolytic chamber and degraded into peptides (By similarity). In addition, regulates gene expression in response to bacterial infection (PubMed:30265660). Binds to the GATA transcription factor elt-2 to control its transcriptional activity and thus the expression of elt-2-dependent genes in response to infection by Gram-negative bacteria such as P.aeruginosa (PubMed:30265660). Component of the 19S proteasome regulatory particle complex (Probable). The 26S proteasome consists of a 20S core particle (CP) and two 19S regulatory subunits (RP) (By similarity). Interacts with elt-2 (PubMed:30265660). RNAi-mediated knockdown at the L4 stage of larval development inhibits activity of the proteasome (PubMed:30265660). RNAi-mediated knockdown at the L4 larval stage also results in increased mortality and transcription of immune genes containing the elt-2 binding motif when exposed to Gram-negative bacteria such as P.aeruginosa (PubMed:30265660). RNAi-mediated knockdown at this stage, furthermore, prevents the recovery of P.aeruginosa infected animals treated with the antibiotic streptomycin (PubMed:30265660). Belongs to the AAA ATPase family.