The humanSUV3gene encodes an NTP-dependent DNA⁄RNA DExH box helicase predominantly localized in mitochondria. Its orthologue in yeast is a component of the mitochondrial degradosome complex involved in the mtRNA decay pathway. In contrast to this, the physiological func-tion of human SUV3remains to be elucidated. In this report we demon-strate that the hSuv3 protein interacts with HBXIP, previously identified as a cofactor of survivin in suppression of apoptosis and as a protein that binds the HBx protein encoded by the hepatitis B virus
