Anti-DDX4

DDX4 (DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 4) is under DEAD box helicase family. DEAD box proteins, characterized by two domains, i.e., ATP-binding and C-terminal helicase domain. It is made up of 724 amino acids. DDX4 is also involved in embryogenesis, spermatogenesis, and cellular growth and division. DDX4 also plays a role in germ cell development and sperm motility. It has 4 isoforms due to alternative splicing. DDX4 is specifically expressed in the germ cell lineage in both sexes and functions in germ cell development. Protein function: ATP-dependent RNA helicase required during spermatogenesis (PubMed:10920202, PubMed:21034600). Required to repress transposable elements and preventing their mobilization, which is essential for the germline integrity. Acts via the piRNA metabolic process, which mediates the repression of transposable elements during meiosis by forming complexes composed of piRNAs and Piwi proteins and governs the methylation and subsequent repression of transposons. Involved in the secondary piRNAs metabolic process, the production of piRNAs in fetal male germ cells through a ping- pong amplification cycle. Required for PIWIL2 slicing-triggered piRNA biogenesis: helicase activity enables utilization of one of the slice cleavage fragments generated by PIWIL2 and processing these pre-piRNAs into piRNAs. [The UniProt Consortium]