DDX17 is an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, belonging to the DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box superfamily and highly related to the other key family member DDX5. The RNA helicase activity of DDX17 has been implicated in the regulation of RNA metabolism, such as RNA splicing, RNA editing, RNA degradation, and modulating secondary RNA structure. DDX17 can act as a transcriptional co-activator for the estrogen receptor ERα. It is also involved in muscle cell differentiation by co-activating MyoD. DDX17 regulates histone modification through interacting with the acetyltransferases p300, CBP, and PCAF, and the histone deacetylase HDAC1. DDX17 deficient mice exhibit severe developmental problems and die shortly after birth.