p97 ATPase, an ATPase involved in membrane fusion, interacts with DNA unwinding factor (DUF) that functions in DNA replication

DNA unwinding factor (DUF) unwinds duplex DNA and is supposed to function i n DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts, Here we report the isolation and analysis of a DUF-interacting factor. By immunoprecipitation, we found tha t p97 ATPase (p97) interacts with DUF in Xenopus egg extracts. This interac tion was confirmed by the in vitro binding of purified p97 with DUF, When s perm chromatin was added to Xenopus egg extracts to construct nuclei active in DNA replication, p97 was incorporated into the nuclei. These data sugge st that the complex of DUF and p97 may function in DNA replication. (C) 200 0 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.