RNA helicases represent a large class of enzymes that mediates the unwinding of RNA and that have been involved in RNA virus life cycle, cancer cells proliferation and migration, immune system activation and many other mechanisms.
Based on the evidence that RNA is somehow involved in all the cellular and viral lifecycle, modulation of the activity of selected RNA binding partners, such as RNA helicases, represents a promising strategy. The fact that different helicases mediate some common pathways as well as specific ones, will ensure focused interventions with reduced toxicity.