NCIt definition : The Drosophila gene Imitation SWI (Iswi) encodes a DNA helicase involved in chromatin
modeling. It contains a SNF2 related domain, a MYB DNA binding domain, a DEAD/DEAH
box helicase, and a helicase C-terminal domain. Iswi is a component of a 215 kD protein
NURF, a nucleosome remodeling complex that facilitates the perturbation of chromatin
structure in an ATP-dependent manner. Iswi mediates the hydrolysis of ATP during the
remodeling of chromatin. It is also a component of the ATP-utilizing chromatin assembly
and remodeling factor ACF and of the chromatin accessibility complex CHRAC. This subunit
may serve as the energy-transducing component of chromatin-remodeling machines. Iswi
belongs to the SNF2/RAD54 helicase family, SNF2L subfamily. Similar sequences have
been identified in Caenorhabditis elegans, Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, Plasmodium
falciparum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. (from FlyBase 0011604 and NCI);