Gemin3 is a member of the DEAD box protein family. The members of this family are characterized by the conserved motif Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD). Some members of this family are believed to be involved in embryogenesis, spermatogenesis, and cellular growth and division. Gemin 3 is a component of the survival of motor neurons (SMN) complex and codes for a DEAD box protein with an ATPase activity The SMN complex is essential for the biogenesis of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins and likely functions in the assembly, metabolism, and transport of a diverse number of other ribonucleoproteins. Specifically, the SMN complex assembles 7 Sm proteins (Gemin2-8) into a core structure around a highly conserved sequence of ribonucleic acid (RNA) found in small nuclear RNAs. The complex recognizes specific sequences and structural features of small nuclear RNAs and Sm proteins and assembles small nuclear ribonucleoproteins in a stepwise fashion.