Understanding the role of oligomerization in RNA DEAD-box helicase function
Members of the DEAD-box helicase family are involved in all fundamental processes of RNA metabolism, and as such, their malfunction is associated with various diseases. Currently, whether and how oligomerization impacts their biochemical and biological functions is not well understood. Previously, we have shown that DDX21, a human DEAD-box helicase with RNA G-quadruplex resolving activity, is dimeric and that its oligomerization state influences its helicase activity (Marcaida et al. 2020). Our results suggest that oligomerization plays a key role in regulating RNA DEAD-box helicase activity and continue investigating the structure and catalytic activity of DDX21 in complex with various RNA partners.
M. J. Marcaida et al. 2020 The Human RNA Helicase DDX21 Presents a Dimerization Interface Necessary for Helicase Activity. iScience. DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101811.
