Bacterial versatility requires DEAD-box RNA helicases.

RNA helicases of the DEAD-box and DEAH-box families are important players in many processes involving RNA molecules. These proteins can modify RNA secondary structures or intermolecular RNA interactions and modulate RNA-protein complexes. In bacteria, they are known to be involved in ribosome biogenesis, RNA turnover and translation initiation. They thereby play an important role in the adaptation of bacteria to changing environments and to respond to stress conditions. © FEMS 2015. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.