Suisheng ZHANG and Frank GROSSE^1*
( Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Beutenbergstrasse 11, D-07745 Jena, Germany;
1Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, POB 100 813, D-07708 Jena, Germany )

Abstract Nuclear DNA helicase II (NDH II), or RNA helicase A (RHA), was initially discovered in mammals by conventional protein purification methods. Molecular cloning identified apparent sequence homologies between NDH II and a Drosophila protein named maleless (MLE), the latter being essential for the Drosophila X-chromosome dosage compensation. Increasing amounts of evidence suggest that NDH II is involved in multiple aspects of cellular and viral DNA and RNA metabolism. Moreover the functions of NDH II may have potential clinical implications related to viral infection, autoimmune diseases, or even tumorigenesis.

Key words DNA and RNA helicase; maleless (MLE); X-chromosome dosage compensation; dsRBD; RGG-box; transcription; RNA processing; RNA transport; actin; nucleolus; SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus); virus

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Received: December 1, 2003 Accepted: January 9, 2004
*Corresponding author: Tel, +49-3641-656290; Fax, +49-3641- 656288; E-mail, fgrosse@imb-jena.de