Helicase that possesses intrinsic ATP-dependent nucleosome-remodeling activity (, ). Catalytic subunit of ISWI chromatin-remodeling complexes, which form ordered nucleosome arrays on chromatin and facilitate access to DNA during DNA-templated processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and repair; this may require intact histone H4 tails (  , ). Within the ISWI chromatin-remodeling complexes, slides edge- and center-positioned histone octamers away from their original location on the DNA template . Catalytic activity and histone octamer sliding propensity is regulated and determined by components of the ISWI chromatin-remodeling complexes . The BAZ1A/ACF1-, BAZ1B/WSTF-, BAZ2A/TIP5- and BAZ2B-containing ISWI chromatin-remodeling complexes regulate the spacing of nucleosomes along the chromatin and have the ability to slide mononucleosomes to the center of a DNA template in an ATP-dependent manner ( ). The CECR2- and RSF1-containing ISWI chromatin-remodeling complexes do not have the ability to slide mononucleosomes to the center of a DNA template . Binds to core histones together with RSF1, and is required for the assembly of regular nucleosome arrays by the RSF-5 ISWI chromatin-remodeling complex . Involved in DNA replication and together with BAZ1A/ACF1 is required for replication of pericentric heterochromatin in S-phase . Probably plays a role in repression of RNA polymerase I dependent transcription of the rDNA locus, through the recruitment of the SIN3/HDAC1 corepressor complex to the rDNA promoter (By similarity). Essential component of the WICH-5 ISWI chromatin-remodeling complex (also called the WICH complex), a chromatin-remodeling complex that mobilizes nucleosomes and reconfigures irregular chromatin to a regular nucleosomal array structure (, ). The WICH-5 ISWI chromatin-remodeling complex regulates the transcription of various genes, has a role in RNA polymerase I transcription (By similarity). Within the B-WICH complex has a role in RNA polymerase III transcription . Mediates the histone H2AX phosphorylation at 'Tyr-142', and is involved in the maintenance of chromatin structures during DNA replication processes (By similarity). Essential component of NoRC-5 ISWI chromatin-remodeling complex, a complex that mediates silencing of a fraction of rDNA by recruiting histone-modifying enzymes and DNA methyltransferases, leading to heterochromatin formation and transcriptional silencing (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Nucleus, Chromosome
Localizes to mitotic chromosomes . Co-localizes with RSF1 in the nucleus . Co-localizes with PCNA at replication foci during S phase . Co-localizes with BAZ1B/WSTF at replication foci during late-S phase . Recruited to DNA damage sites following interactiuon with SIRT6 .
Ubiquitously expressed.