DEAD box proteins, characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD), are putative RNA helicases. They are implicated in a number of cellular processes involving alteration of RNA secondary structure, such as translation initiation, nuclear and mitochondrial splicing, and ribosome and splicesosome assembly. Based on their distribution patterns, some members of this family are believed to be involved in embryogenesis, spermatogenesis, and cellular growth and division. This gene encodes a DEAD box protein, which is an ATPase activated by a variety of RNA species, but not by dsDNA. This protein, and that encoded by DDX5 gene, are more closely related to each other than to any other member of the DEAD box family. Several alternatively spliced transcripts encoding different isoforms, some of which use non-AUG (CUG) translation initiation codon, have been described for this gene.
As an RNA helicase, unwinds RNA and alters RNA structures through ATP binding and hydrolysis. Involved in multiple cellular processes, including pre-mRNA splicing, alternative splicing, ribosomal RNA processing and miRNA processing, as well as transcription regulation. Regulates the alternative splicing of exons exhibiting specific features
Protein Families
DEAD box helicase family, DDX5/DBP2 subfamily
Tissue Specificity
Widely expressed (PubMed:8871553). Low expression, if any, in normal colonic epithelial cells (at protein level). Levels tend to increase during colon cancer progression, from very low in benign hyperplastic polyps to very high in tubular and villous aden