ATP-dependent RNA helicase DDX3Y (DDX3Y)

ATP-dependent RNA helicase DDX3Y is an enzyme encoded by the DDX3Y gene on the Y chromosome, classified as a member of the DEAD-box RNA helicase family characterized by a conserved Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD) motif essential for ATP binding, hydrolysis, and RNA binding activity[2][3][4]. DDX3Y alters RNA secondary structure, participating in various aspects of RNA metabolism such as translation initiation, mRNA splicing, and ribosome and spliceosome assembly[2][3]. It is highly expressed in male germ cells, is crucial for spermatogenesis, and mutations or deletions lead to male infertility including Sertoli cell-only syndrome and severe hypospermatogenesis[2][3]. The protein shares high sequence similarity to its X chromosome paralog DDX3X, but its spermatogenic function is not complemented by DDX3X[3]. DDX3Y is also implicated in immune response, with a potential role in enhancing interferon beta (IFNB1) expression during immune activation[4].

Other names

DEAD-box helicase 3 Y-linkedDBYDEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box helicase 3, Y-linkedDEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 3, Y-linkedDEAD box protein 3, Y-chromosomalDEAD/H (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp/His) box polypeptideDDX3Y_HUMANATP-dependent RNA helicase DDX3Y [2][3][4]