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FLASH GENE
Symbol DDX21 contributors: mct/npt/pgu - updated : 06-07-2022
HGNC name DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 21
HGNC id 2744
Location 10q21.3      Physical location : 70.715.891 - 70.744.279
Synonym name
  • Gu protein
  • RNA helicase II/Gu alpha
  • DEAD/H (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp/His) box polypeptide 21
  • nucleolar RNA helicase II
  • Synonym symbol(s) GUA, GURDB, RH-II/GuA, DKFZp686F211
    EC.number 3.6.1.-/3.6.4.13
    DNA
    TYPE functioning gene
    SPECIAL FEATURE arranged in tandem
    text arranged in tandem with DDX50
    STRUCTURE 28.90 kb     15 Exon(s)
    10 Kb 5' upstream gene genomic sequence study
    regulatory sequence Promoter
    text structure no TATA box
    MAPPING cloned Y linked Y status provisional
    RNA
    TRANSCRIPTS type messenger
    identificationnb exonstypebpproduct
    ProteinkDaAAspecific expressionYearPubmed
    15 - 4664 87.2 783 - 2002 11891046
    15 - 4623 - 715 - 2002 11891046
    EXPRESSION
    Type ubiquitous
       expressed in (based on citations)
    organ(s)
    SystemOrgan level 1Organ level 2Organ level 3Organ level 4LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
    Digestiveliver   highly
    Lymphoid/Immunetonsils   highly
    Skin/Tegumentskin   highly
    tissue
    SystemTissueTissue level 1Tissue level 2LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
    Blood / hematopoieticbone marrow  highly
    cell lineage
    cell lines
    fluid/secretion
    at STAGE
    PROTEIN
    PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    STRUCTURE
    motifs/domains
  • N terminal DEAD/H box (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp/His)
  • dsRNA helicase domain
  • C terminal domain as RNA foldase
  • HOMOLOGY
    intraspecies paralog to DDX21L
    Homologene
    FAMILY
  • DEAD box helicase family
  • DDX21/DDX50 subfamily
  • CATEGORY enzyme , RNA associated
    SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION     intracellular
    intracellular,cytoplasm,organelle,mitochondria
    intracellular,cytoplasm,cytosolic
    intracellular,nucleus,nucleoplasm
    intracellular,nucleus,chromatin/chromosome
    intracellular,nucleus,nucleolus
    text
  • nucleolar retention of DDX21 is dependent on the presence of nucleostemin in the nucleolus
  • inhibition of JNK signalling results in partial delocalization of DDX21 from the nucleolus to the nucleoplasm, increased nucleolar mobility of DDX21 and inhibition of rRNA processing
  • CASP3/6 cleaves DDX21 at D126 and promotes its translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in response to virus infection
  • basic FUNCTION
  • double stranded unwinding RNA and folding single stranded RNA
  • multifunctional nucleolar protein involved in ribosomal RNA processing
  • DDX21 can sense the transcriptional status of both RNA polymerase (Pol) I and II to control multiple steps of ribosome biogenesis in human cells
  • multifaceted role of DDX21 in multiple steps of ribosome biogenesis, providing evidence implicating a mammalian RNA helicase in RNA modification and Pol II elongation control (
  • SIRT7 and DDX21 cooperate to prevent R-loop accumulation, thus safeguarding genome integrity
  • role for DDX21 in the proliferation of gastric cancer cells via the Cyclin D1 and CDK2 pathways
  • is a nuclear protein involved in rRNA processing and RNA unwinding
  • potential role of DDX21 cleavage in the innate immune response to virus
  • DDX21 and MOV10 RNA helicases limit viral infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2, but in contrast, DDX1, DDX5, and DDX6 are required for SARS-CoV-2 infection
  • nucleolar protein harboring ATP-dependent double-stranded RNA unwinding activities, essential in rRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis
  • CELLULAR PROCESS nucleotide
    protein, editing
    cell organization/biogenesis
    PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS respiration
    text ribosomal RNA biogenesis
    PATHWAY
    metabolism
    signaling
    a component
  • part of a large protein complex containing proteins related to pre-rRNA processing, such as PES1, GNL3, and EBNA1BP2, in addition to several ribosomal proteins
  • DDX1-DDX21-DHX36 complex represents a dsRNA sensor that uses the TICAM1 pathway to activate type I IFN responses in the cytosol of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs)
  • INTERACTION
    DNA
    RNA
    small molecule
  • ATP
  • protein
  • physically interacts with ribosomal protein L4 (RPL4), a component of 60S ribosome large subunit (its function in rRNA processing is at least partially dependent on its ability to interact with RPL4)
  • interaction between JUN and DDX21 regulates nucleolar localization of DDX21
  • the proper recruitment of nucleolin and DDX21 to the nucleoli in daughter cells after cell division is ensured by WDR46
  • PTP4A3 binds to the RNA helicase DDX21, thereby restricting productive transcription by RNAPII at master transcription factor (MITF)-regulated endolysosomal vesicle genes
  • DDX21 induces CEP55 expression, MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell proliferation and tumorigenesis
  • DDX21 interacted with WDR5 to promote colorectal cancer cell proliferation by activating CDK1 expression
  • cell & other
    REGULATION
    Other regulated by JUN (supports ribosomal RNA processing and its nucleolar localization)
    activity of DDX21 is regulated by acetylation
    ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
    corresponding disease(s)
    Other morbid association(s)
    TypeGene ModificationChromosome rearrangementProtein expressionProtein Function
    tumoral     --over  
    in gastric cancer tissues compared to paired adjacent normal tissues
    Susceptibility
    Variant & Polymorphism
    Candidate gene for watermelon stomach disease
    Marker
  • high DDX21 protein expression as an independent favorable prognostic marker for early stage microsatellite instability (MSI) colorectal cancer
  • could serve as a marker for a subset of breast cancer patients with higher proliferation potential
  • Therapy target
    SystemTypeDisorderPubmed
    cancerdigestivestomach
    can be used as a therapeutic target for gastric cancer
    cancerreproductivebreast
    may be used as a therapeutic target for a subset of breast cancer patients
    cancerdigestivecolon
    targeting DDX21 may be an alternative new strategy for CRC treatment
    ANIMAL & CELL MODELS