The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the DEAD-box RNA helicase family，characterized by nine conserved motifs，included the conserved Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD) motif. These motifs are thought to be involved in ATP binding，hydrolysis，RNA binding，and in the formation of intramolecular interactions. This protein shares high similarity to DDX3X，on the X chromosome，but a deletion of this gene is not complemented by DDX3X. Mutations in this gene result in male infertility，a reduction in germ cell numbers，and can result in Sertoli-cell only sydrome. Pseudogenes sharing similarity to both this gene and the DDX3X paralog are found on chromosome 4 and the X chromosome. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms.