InterPro domain: IPR041679

This domain contains a P-loop motif that is characteristic of the AAA superfamily. Proteins containing this domain are DEAD-like helicases belonging to superfamily (SF)1, a diverse family of proteins involved in ATP-dependent RNA or DNA unwinding. Similar to SF2 helicases, SF1 helicases do not form toroidal structures like SF3-6 helicases. Their helicase core consists of two similar protein domains that resemble the fold of the recombination protein RecA [ 1 , 2 , 3 ].

Proteins containing this domain include helicases, such as Dna2 an Nam7. Dna2 is a DNA replication factor with single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase, ATP-dependent nuclease, (5'-flap endonuclease) and helicase activities [ 4 , 5 ]. Nam7 (also known as Upf1) is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase involved in the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway [ 6 ].

This domain can also be found in some virus polyproteins. This domain is also known as HelicC.

1. Unwinding RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: DEAD-box proteins and related families. Trends Biochem. Sci. 24, 192-8
2. D-E-A-D protein family of putative RNA helicases. Mol. Microbiol. 6, 283-91
3. DExD/H box RNA helicases: multifunctional proteins with important roles in transcriptional regulation. Nucleic Acids Res. 34
4. Genetic analyses of Schizosaccharomyces pombe dna2(+) reveal that dna2 plays an essential role in Okazaki fragment metabolism. Genetics 155, 1055-67
5. Biochemical analyses indicate that binding and cleavage specificities define the ordered processing of human Okazaki fragments by Dna2 and FEN1. Nucleic Acids Res. 40, 6774-86
6. RNA Decay Factor UPF1 Promotes Protein Decay: A Hidden Talent. Bioessays 40, 4206-15