DEAD box proteins, characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD), are putative RNA helicases which are implicated in a number of cellular procsses involving RNA binding and alteration of RNA secondary structure. This gene encodes a DEXD/H box RNA helicase that functions as an antiviral factor and promotes RIG-I-like receptor-mediated signaling. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2017].