Abstract
RNA helicases are known to both unwind double-stranded RNA and to disrupt the bonds between RNA and proteins in ribonucleoprotein complexes. However, it has remained unclear whether displacement of proteins depends on unwinding of the RNA duplex. In his Perspective, Linder clarifies the situation with a discussion of recent work ( Fairman et al.) showing that protein displacement by RNA helicases is independent of the unwinding of double-stranded RNA.