Background
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 spliceosome 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 a homolog of VASA proteins in Drosophila and several other species. The gene is
specifically expressed in the germ cell lineage in both sexes and functions in germ cell
development. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for
this gene.
