Unwinding RNA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: DEAD-box proteins and related families

Members of the RNA-helicase family are defined by several evolutionary cons erved motifs. They are found in all organisms - from bacteria to humans - a nd many viruses. The minimum number of RNA helicases present within a eukar yotic cell can be predicted from the complete sequence of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome. Recent progress in the functional analysis of various f amily members has given new insights into, and confirmed the significance o f these proteins for, most cellular RNA metabolic processes.