DEAD box proteins, characterized by the conserved motifAsp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD), are putative RNA helicases. They areimplicated in a number of cellular processes involving alterationof RNA secondary structure such as translation initiation, nuclearand mitochondrial splicing, and ribosome and spliceosome assembly.Based on their distribution patterns, some members of this familyare believed to be involved in embryogenesis, spermatogenesis, andcellular growth and division. DDX11 encodes a DEAD box protein,which is an enzyme that possesses both ATPase and DNA helicaseactivities. DDX11 is a homolog of the yeast CHL1 gene, and mayfunction to maintain chromosome transmission fidelity and genomestability.