Predicted to enable several functions, including ATP binding activity; ATP hydrolysis activity; and RNA helicase activity. Predicted to be involved in maturation of LSU-rRNA from tricistronic rRNA transcript (SSU-rRNA, 5.8S rRNA, LSU-rRNA). Predicted to be located in nucleolus. Expressed in head and tail. Is an ortholog of human DDX18 (DEAD-box helicase 18).