DDX3X is a Cl - -sensitive RNA helicase.
Rosa E Silva, I., do Prado, P.F.V., Benevenutti, F.Z., de Oliveira, R.R., Passos, A.R., Canateli, C., Messias, I.G., Trindade, D.M., Bortot, L.O., Guerra, J.V.S., Hancio, T., Sforca, M.L., Nascimento, A.F.Z., Mercaldi, G.F., Pereira, J.G.C., Fonseca, M.C., de Oliveira, P.S.L., de Carvalho, M., Smetana, J.H.C., Krepischi, A.C.V., Franchini, K.G., de Oliveira, J.F.(2026) Sci Signal 19: eadv4376-eadv4376
- PubMed: 41875230 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scisignal.adv4376
- Primary Citation Related Structures: 
9E2C - PubMed Abstract: 
Cl - homeostasis is pivotal during neurodevelopment and in multiple processes in mature neurons, and its disruption is implicated in several neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we investigated the role of Cl - in regulating DDX3X, an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that is associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder and is involved in stress granule assembly through biomolecular condensation. Cl - directly interacted with the DDX3X helicase core in the RNA binding region. This interaction impaired both ATPase and RNA helicase activities at physiologically relevant concentrations in a manner similar to inorganic phosphate and disrupted its condensation propensity in vitro. In neuroblastoma cells, Cl - efflux induced the formation of large, persistent DDX3X-containing stress granules. Furthermore, the R326H mutation, which is linked to a severe neurodevelopmental disorder, altered the chemical environment of the Cl - -binding site and impaired Cl - -sensitive functions. Together, our findings demonstrate that Cl - binding regulates DDX3X functions and provide insights into the molecular pathophysiology of a neurodevelopmental disorder-linked mutation in DDX3X.
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory (LNBio), Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), 13083-970, Campinas, Brazil.
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