Background: DHX33 is a member of the DEAH box family of proteins that possesses several conserved motifs which include the highly conserved DEAH (Asp-Glu-Ala-His) amino acid sequence motif. The major activity of DEAH box proteins is to function as ATP-dependent RNA helicases. RNA helicases play an important role in all aspects of RNA metabolism and function which include pre-mRNA splicing, RNA synthesis, RNA degradation, RNA export, RNA translation, RNA secondary structure formation, ribosome biogenesis, and the assembly of RNP complexes. The specific function of DHX33 has not been determined.