Background and objective: DEAD-box protein (DDX)5 plays important roles in multiple aspects of cellular processes that require modulating RNA structure. Alongside the canonical role of DDX5 in RNA metabolism, many reports have shown that DDX5 influences viral infection by directly interacting with viral proteins. However, the functional role of DDX5 in virus-associated cancers, as well as the identity of DDX5 in virus infection-associated signaling pathways, has remained largely unexplained. Here, we further explore the precise functions of DDX5 and its potential targets for antiviral treatment.
Methods: We searched the PubMed and PMC databases to identify studies on role of DDXs, especially DDX5, during various viral infection published up to May 2022.
Key content and findings: DDX5 functions as both a viral infection helper and inhibitor, which depends on virus type. DDXs proteins have been identified to play roles on multiple aspects covering RNA metabolism and function.
Conclusions: DDX5 influences viral pathogenesis by participating in viral replication and multiple viral infection-related signaling pathways, it also plays a double-edge sword role under different viral infection conditions. Deep investigation into the mechanism of DDX5 modulating immune response in host cells revealed that it holds highly potential usage for future antiviral therapy. We reviewed current studies to provide a comprehensive update of the role of DDX5 in viral infection.
Keywords: DEAD-box proteins (DDXs); antiviral target; cellular processes; viral infection.
2022 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.