About DEAD Box Protein:
DEAD box proteins function by coupling cycles of ATP binding and hydrolysis to changes in the single-stranded RNA affinity. These helicases are a large family of conserved RNA-binding proteins that work with a broader group of cellular DExD/H helicases. DEAD box proteins have roles throughout cellular RNA metabolism from decay to biogenesis. There is enough new evidence to suggest that DEAD box helicases play a key role in the recognition of foreign nucleic acids.
DEAD Box Protein Mechanism
The helicases in the DEAD box protein family work within every area of the RNA metabolism. These enzymes in vivo have properties that remain poorly described. There are some that have been characterized extensively in vitro, and the solved crystal structures of a few DEAD box proteins are now available. DEAD box proteins are involved in a range of metabolic processes that involve RNAs but can also involve other nucleic acids. There are many organisms that contain DEAD box protein helicases, including humans. DEAD box proteins have been previously found to be required in cellular processes, including nuclear transcription, pre mRNA splicing, nucleocytoplasmic transport, RNA decay, translation and organellar gene expression.
DEAD Box Protein Structure
DEAD box proteins are present in most organisms and they are characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp. They are implicated in a large number of cellular processes which involve alteration of the RNA secondary structure like mitochondrial slicing. DEAD box proteins perform its functions in the cell nucleus and cytoplasm and it has been previously reported that this helicase domain was needed for interaction.