DEAD-box proteins, characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp, are putative RNA helicases implicated in several cellular processes involving modifications of RNA secondary structure and ribosome/spliceosome assembly. Based on their distribution patterns, some members of this family may be involved in embryogenesis, spermatogenesis and cellular growth and division. DDX49 (DEAD-box protein 49) is a 483 amino acid protein that contains one helicase ATP-binding domain and one helicase C-terminal domain. One of several members of the DEAD-box protein family, DDX49 may function as a an RNA helicase that is involved in pre-mRNA splicing events.