Probably acts as an adapter for ATPase cdc-48.1 and/or cdc-48.2, conferring substrate specificity. May play a role in the ER-associated protein degradation pathway (ERAD) possibly acting as a platform to recruit both ubql-1 and cdc-48.1 and/or cdc-48.2 to the ER during ERAD. Interacts with cdc-48.1 (via N-terminus) and cdc-48.2 (via N-terminus). Both the N- and the C-terminus face the cytosol. Expressed in the germline. Expressed in embryos, L4 larvae and adults. Expressed to a lesser extent between L1 and L3 larval stages. Induced upon ER stress (PubMed:19822669, PubMed:17498661). Down-regulated upon heat stress (PubMed:17498661). The intramembrane domain also contains the signal for ER targeting. RNAi-mediated knockdown causes a reduction in lifespan. Induces ER stress characterized by the expression of hsp-4, the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and an increase in ubql-1 expression.