The ALC1 subfamily derives its name from the observation that the human gene is ‘Amplified in Liver Cancer’ 1. Alternative but potentially confusing names CHD1L (CHD1-Like 2), and SNF2P (SNF2-like in Plants 3) have previously been used to refer to subfamily members. Subfamily members contain a helicase-like region which is relatively similar to the nucleosome-active Snf2, Iswi and Chd1 subfamilies, and which sits ahead of a macro domain implicated in ADP-ribose interactions 4. ALC1 subfamily members are found in both higher animals and plants, but not in lower animals.