Nuclear Prelamin A Recognition Factor Like Protein (NARFL)

The deduced 476-amino acid NARFL protein shares similarity with several bacterial iron-only hydrogenases, including conservation of a distinctive active site iron sulfur cluster, termed the H cluster, and a second iron-sulfur cluster contained in a ferredoxin-like domain. NARFL shares 47% sequence identity over the hydrogenase domain with nuclear prelamin A recognition factor (NARF). Northern blot analysis detected wide expression of a 2.4-kb NARFL transcript, with high expression in heart and skeletal muscle. Knockdown of NARFL with siRNA induced expression of the alpha subunit of transcription factor hypoxia-induced factor-1 (HIF1A) mRNA and protein, and potentiated hypoxia-induced activation of HIF reporter genes and endogenous HIF target genes.