Ubiquitin-binding protein which acts as an adapter for ATPase cdc-48.1 and/or cdc-48.2, conferring substrate specificity (PubMed:20977550). Together with ubxn-2 and ubxn-3, plays a role in hermaphrodite spermatogenesis probably by promoting the degradation of sex determination terminal factor tra-1. {Experimental EvidencePubMed:20977550}.