Possesses single-stranded DNA-stimulated ATPase and ATP- dependent DNA helicase (3' to 5') activity; hexamerization is thought to be critical for ATP hydrolysis and adjacent subunits in the ring- like structure contribute to the ATPase activity (PubMed:17157868, PubMed:33205750). Component of the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase complex which is involved in transcriptional activation of select genes principally by acetylation of nucleosomal histones H4 and H2A (PubMed:14966270). This modification may both alter nucleosome-DNA interactions and promote interaction of the modified histones with other proteins which positively regulate transcription (PubMed:14966270). This complex may be required for the activation of transcriptional programs associated with oncogene and proto-oncogene mediated growth induction, tumor suppressor mediated growth arrest and replicative senescence, apoptosis, and DNA repair (PubMed:14966270). The NuA4 complex ATPase and helicase activities seem to be, at least in part, contributed by the association of RUVBL1 and RUVBL2 with EP400. NuA4 may also play a direct role in DNA repair when recruited to sites of DNA damage (PubMed:14966270). Component of a SWR1-like complex that specifically mediates the removal of histone H2A.Z/H2AZ1 from the nucleosome (PubMed:24463511). Proposed core component of the chromatin remodeling INO80 complex which exhibits DNA- and nucleosome-activated ATPase activity and catalyzes ATP-dependent nucleosome sliding (PubMed:16230350, PubMed:21303910). Plays an essential role in oncogenic transformation by MYC and also modulates transcriptional activation by the LEF1/TCF1-CTNNB1 complex (PubMed:10882073, PubMed:16014379). Essential for cell proliferation (PubMed:14506706). May be able to bind plasminogen at cell surface and enhance plasminogen activation (PubMed:11027681). {ECO:0000269|PubMed:10882073, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11027681, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14506706, ECO:0000269|PubMed:14966270, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16014379, ECO:0000269|PubMed:16230350, ECO:0000269|PubMed:17157868, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21303910, ECO:0000269|PubMed:24463511, ECO:0000269|PubMed:33205750}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000175792 (RUVBL1, RuvB like AAA ATPase 1).