NVL: a new member of the AAA family of ATPases localized to the nucleus

Abstract

We report the cloning of NVL, a newly recognized human gene that encodes an approximately 110-kDa nuclear protein designated NVLp (nuclear VCP-like protein), which is a member of a rapidly growing family of ATP-binding proteins recently denoted the AAA family (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities) (W. H. Kunau et al., 1993, Biochimie 75:209-224). NVL was isolated by degenerate PCR using oligonucleotides corresponding to the yeast PEX1 gene, which is necessary for peroxisomal biogenesis. Two cDNAs, designated NVL.1 and NVL.2, may represent alternatively spliced forms of a single gene that maps to chromosome 1q41-q42.2. NVL has greatest similarity to the VCP subfamily of AAA proteins, is widely expressed, and encodes a nuclear protein with two highly similar ATP-binding domains. We speculate that NVLp is involved in an ATP-dependent nuclear process.