A human putative Suv3-like RNA helicase is conserved between Rhodobacter and all eukaryotes

We have cloned and sequenced a cDNA of the human homologue of the Saccharom yces cerevisiae Suv3 putative RNA helicase which is indispensable for mitoc hondrial function in yeast. The human Suv-3-like protein has a typical mito chondrial leader sequence. Northern blot data and analysis of ESTs in the d ata banks indicate that this human gene (SUPV3L1) is expressed in practical ly all tissues, though at different levels. Sequence homology analysis has shown a strong conservation of the protein in a number of eukaryotic organi sms - plants, mammals and fungi, but no close homologues exist in bacteria with the exception of the purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. This ge ne is thus ubiquitously present in all eukaryotic organisms.