NEIL3 Background Information NEIL1, NEIL2 and NEIL3 (also known as endonuclease VIII-like 1,2 and 3 or DNA-(apurinic or apyrimidinic site) lyase NEIL 1, 2 and 3) are nuclear proteins involved in the repair of DNA damaged by oxidation. The NEIL proteins belong to the FPG family. They act as DNA glycosylases that can recognize and remove damaged bases, leaving an abasic site. NEIL3, however, lacks the proline resi-due at the N-terminus which acts as the active site residue found in NEIL1 and NEIL2. Thus, reports of NEIL3 DNA glycosylase activity are contradictory. NEIL3 localizes to the nucleus and only demonstrates expression in thymus and testis tissues. The deduced 605 amino acid NEIL3 protein contains both one FPG-type zinc finger and one RanBP2-type zinc finger.
