Chromodomain Helicase DNA Binding Protein 6 (CHD6)

Chromosomal DNA of eukaryotic cells is compacted by nuclear proteins to form chromatin, an organized nucleoprotein structure that can inhibit gene expression. Several multisubunit protein complexes exist to remodel the chromatin to allow patterns of cell type-specific gene expression. CHD6 is thought to be a core member of one or more of these complexes. The encoded protein, which is a member of the SNF2/RAD54 helicase family, contains two chromodomains, a helicase domain, and an ATPase domain.

Chd6 is ubiquitously expressed in both mouse and human, with the highest levels of expression in the brain. The Chd6 gene contains 37 exons, of which exons 12-19 encode the highly conserved ATPase domain.