| Field | Specification |
|---|---|
| Mfr No | |
| Activity | |
| Alternative Names | DEAD box protein 3, X-chromosomal DEAD box, X isoform Helicase-like protein 2 |
| Conjugate | |
| Endotoxin Level | |
| Expression System | |
| Form | Liquid or Lyophilized powder |
| Function | |
| Molecular Weight | |
| Product Type | |
| Protein Length | |
| Purity | |
| Reconstitution | |
| Species | |
| Storage | |
| Target | |
| UniProt # |
Overview
Recombinant Human ATP-dependent RNA helicase DDX3X (DDX3X) is a recombinant protein reagent for research-use applications such as assay development, binding studies, and mechanistic experiments. It corresponds to DDX3X (Homo sapiens (Human)) and is intended for RUO workflows where a defined protein standard or functional input is needed.
Key elements and design rationale
- Expression system: E.coli (expression context can influence folding and PTMs).
- Expression region: 2-662aa (region choice can affect activity and binding readouts).
- Conjugate(s)/tag: N-terminal 6xHis-B2M-tagged (can support detection or purification depending on format).
- Molecular weight: 87.1 kDa (useful for interpreting gel migration and size-exclusion profiles).
When comparing results across assays, consider that expression system and expressed region can alter glycosylation, disulfide formation, and oligomerization state, which may shift apparent potency or binding behavior in vitro.
Biological background
Multifunctional ATP-dependent RNA helicase. The ATPase activity can be stimulated by various ribo- and deoxynucleic acids indicative for a relaxed substrate specificity. In vitro can unwind partially double-stranded DNA with a preference for 5'-single-stranded DNA overhangs. Is involved in several steps of gene expression, such as transcription, mRNA maturation, mRNA export and translation. However, the exact mechanisms are not known and some functions may be specific for a subset of mRNAs. Involved in transcriptional regulation. Can enhance transcription from the CDKN1A/WAF1 promoter in a SP1-dependent manner. Found associated with the E-cadherin promoter and can down-regulate transcription from the promoter. Involved in regulation of translation initiation. Proposed to be involved in positive regulation of translation such as of cyclin E1/CCNE1 mRNA and specifically of mRNAs containing complex secondary structures in their 5'UTRs; these functions seem to require RNA helicase activity. Specifically promotes translation of a subset of viral and cellular mRNAs carrying a 5'proximal stem-loop structure in their 5'UTRs and cooperates with the eIF4F complex. Proposed to act prior to 43S ribosomal scanning and to locally destabilize these RNA structures to allow recognition of the mRNA cap or loading onto the 40S subunit. After association with 40S ribosomal subunits seems to be involved in the functional assembly of 80S ribosomes; the function seems to cover translation of mRNAs with structured and non-structured 5'UTRs and is independent of RNA helicase activity. Also proposed to inhibit cap-dependent translation by competetive interaction with EIF4E which can block the EIF4E:EIF4G complex formation. Proposed to be involved in stress response and stress granule assembly; the function is independent of RNA helicase activity and seems to involve association with EIF4E. May be involved in nuclear export of specific mRNAs but not in bulk mRNA export via interactions with XPO1 and NXF1. Also associates with polyadenylated mRNAs independently of NXF1. Associates with spliced mRNAs in an exon junction complex (EJC)-dependent manner and seems not to be directly involved in splicing. May be involved in nuclear mRNA export by association with DDX5 and regulating its nuclear location. Involved in innate immune signaling promoting the production of type I interferon (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta); proposed to act as viral RNA sensor, signaling intermediate and transcriptional coactivator. Involved in TBK1 and IKBKE-dependent IRF3 activation leading to IFNB induction, plays a role of scaffolding adapter that links IKBKE and IRF3 and coordinates their activation. Also found associated with IFNB promoters; the function is independent of IRF3. Can bind to viral RNAs and via association with MAVS/IPS1 and DDX58/RIG-I is thought to induce signaling in early stages of infection. Involved in regulation of apoptosis. May be required for activation of the intrinsic but inhibit activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Acts as an antiapoptotic protein through association with GSK3A/B and BIRC2 in an apoptosis antagonizing signaling complex; activation of death receptors promotes caspase-dependent cleavage of BIRC2 and DDX3X and relieves the inhibition. May be involved in mitotic chromosome segregation. Appears to be a prime target for viral manipulations. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) polymerase and possibly vaccinia virus (VACV) protein K7 inhibit IFNB induction probably by dissociating DDX3X from TBK1 or IKBKE. Is involved in hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication; the function may involve the association with HCV core protein. HCV core protein inhibits the IPS1-dependent function in viral RNA sensing and may switch the function from a INFB inducing to a HCV replication mode. Involved in HIV-1 replication. Acts as a cofactor for XPO1-mediated nuclear export of incompletely spliced HIV-1 Rev RNAs.
Research relevance and current trends
- Reagent standardization: using recombinant proteins as reference materials for quantitative calibration and cross-study comparability.
- Interaction-focused studies: mapping binding partners, affinity changes, and structure–function relationships across variants or domains.
- Multi-omic readouts: combining recombinant perturbations with transcript, protein, and functional endpoints to connect mechanism to phenotype.
Common research applications
- Assay development and validation: use as a defined input or standard where protein identity is required.
- Binding studies: evaluate interaction strength and specificity using plate-based or biophysical formats.
- Cell-response profiling: add protein to cultured cells and interpret downstream marker changes with appropriate controls.
Interpretation is most robust when signal changes are evaluated relative to matched controls (buffer-only, unrelated protein controls, or pathway controls) and when readouts are compared across dose and time.
Notes for experimental interpretation
- Isoforms and PTMs can influence binding and activity; ensure the expressed region and expression system match your experimental needs.
- Species differences may affect receptor binding or antibody recognition; confirm species/source alignment with your model.
- Use concept-level controls such as negative controls (no protein), matrix controls, or orthogonal readouts to support conclusions.
What is protein expression and purification?
Why is there no/low protein expression?
b. Rare codons. You should optimize codons, use strains supplementing rare codons, induce at lower temperature or grow in poor media.
c. Protein toxicity. You should use promoters with tighter regulation or lower plasmid copy number. Use pLysS/pLysE bearing strains in T7-based systems or strains that are better for the expression of toxic proteins. Start induction at high OD and shorten induction time. Add glucose when using expression vectors containing lac-based promoters.
How to avoid inclusion bodies and improve soluble expression?
b. Incorrect disulfide bond formation. You should add fusion partners, including thioredoxin, DsbA, DsbC. Clone in a vector containing secretion signal peptide to cell periplasm. Use gamiB (DE3)strains with oxidative cytoplasmic environment. Lower inducer concentration and induction temperature.
c. Incorrect folding. You should use a fusion partner. Co-express with molecular chaperones. Use strains with cold-adapted chaperones. Supplement media with chemical chaperones and cofactors. Reduce the inducer concentration and add fresh media. Induce for a shorter time at low temperature.
Why is the molecular weight of protein smaller than the predicted?
b. Imbalanced translation process of fusion protein. You should change another fusion tag or move fusion tag to C-terminal. You should induce for a shorter time at low temperature or change to poor media.
c. Protein degradation. You should replace specific protease sites. Use protease deficient strains. Induce at high OD. You should induce for a shorter time at low temperature or use protease inhibitors when breaking cells.
Why is the actual band size different from the predicted?
b. Post-translational cleavage. Many proteins are synthesized as pro-proteins, and then cleaved to give the active form.
c. Splice variants. Alternative splicing may create different sized proteins from the same gene.
d. Relative charge. The composition of amino acids have different relative charge which will affect the electrophoretic mobility.
e. Multimers such as dimerisation of a protein. This is usually prevented in reducing conditions, although strong interactions can result in the appearance of higher bands.
f. Protein structure such as disulfide bond, protein secondary structure or protein 3D structure formation.
g. Hydrophobic proteins, such as transmembrane proteins, may have difficulties in migrating into the gel, and thus resulting in different multi-banded patterns.
How to express a protein with bioactivity? Why is the protein inactive?
a. Low solubility of the protein. You should fuse desired protein to a fusion partners and lower temperature.
b. Lack of essential post translational modification. You should change another expression system.
c. Incomplete folding. You should use a fusion partner and use strains with cold-adapted chaperones. Co-express with molecular chaperones at lower temperature. Monitor disulfide bond formation and allow further folding in vitro.
d. Mutations in cDNA. You should sequence plasmid before and after induction or use a recA− strain to ensure plasmid stability. Transform E. coli before each expression round.
Why are our protein products almost invisible in pipes?
Tips: Before opening the lid, we recommend to centrifuge in a small centrifuge for 20-30 seconds firstly to ensure that the contents are on the bottom of the tube. Our quality control steps ensure that the amount of protein contained in each tube is accurate, although sometimes you can’t see the protein powder, but the protein content in the tube is still very accurate.
How is the protein purified? Is the purity guaranteed?
Although we guarantee a minimum purity standard of >85%, some of the proteins we prepared have a purity of 95% or even 97%.
How should I reconstitute and store the products?
As for short-term storage or usage, please use sterile deionized water to completely reconstitute proteins to 0.1-1.0 mg/mL. Aliquot after 10-15 minutes if needed and store at 4℃.
As for long-term storage, the cytokines or recombinant proteins are recommended to add 5-50% of glycerol (final concentration) and aliquot for long-term storage at -20℃/-80℃. Our default final concentration of glycerol is 50%. Customers could use it as reference.
What types of tags do you use for fusion?
What is the impact of a given tag type and any potential biological activity of the protein?
Can you remove the endotoxin?
Can you offer aseptic manufacture processing?
How to determine species cross-reactivity of cytokines?
b. Many mouse cytokines may also have effect on human cells, however, the activity may be lower than the corresponding human cytokines.
c. One of the few human cytokines will be more active than corresponding mouse cytokines when acting on mouse cells, such as IL-7.
d. Interferon, GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-4 and other cytokines are species-specific and almost have no activity on non-homologous cells.
e. In contrast, fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and neurotrophin are highly conserved and both have good activity on cells of different species.
What is the general preservative? Which kind of preservative do you usually add?
What is the general protectant? What kind of protectant do you usually add?
Can’t Find What You’re Looking For? We can help you source the best match or customize a recombinant protein solution for your study. Options may include species (human/mouse/rat), protein region/domain (full-length vs fragment), tag or label (His/GST/FLAG/biotin/fluorescent), expression system (E. coli/HEK293/insect), purity grade, formulation (buffer, carrier-free, glycerol-free), activity/functional validation (binding or enzymatic assays), endotoxin level (low-endotoxin for cell-based work), mutants/variants (point mutations, isoforms), and bulk or custom packaging. Click Talk to a Scientist to submit a request form, email us at support@biohippo.com, or explore our Research Services for additional support. Our team will be in contact with you shortly.
