<p>This family of proteins represent HslU, a bacterial clpX homolog, which is an ATPase and chaperone belonging to the AAA Clp/Hsp100 family and a component of the eubacterial proteasome. </p><p>ATP-dependent protease complexes are present in all three kingdoms of life, where they rid the cell of misfolded or damaged proteins and control the level of certain regulatory proteins. They include the proteasome in Eukaryotes, Archaea, and Actinomycetales and the HslVU (ClpQY, ClpXP) complex in other eubacteria. Genes homologous to eubacterial HslV, <db_xref db="INTERPRO" dbkey="IPR001353"/>, (ClpQ,) and HslU (ClpY, ClpX) have also been demonstrated in to be present in the genome of trypanosomatid protozoa. They are expressed as precursors, with a propeptide that is removed to produce the active protease. The protease is probably located in the kinetoplast (mitochondrion). Phylogenetic analysis shows that HslV and HslU from trypanosomatids form a single clad with other eubacterial homologs [<cite idref="PUB00011906"/>].</p>