RNase L (D4B4J) Rabbit mAb #27281

RNase L is an antiviral protein that is expressed in most mammalian cells (1). Latent RNase L in the cytoplasm is activated by the second messenger 2’,5’-linked oligoadenylate (2-5A), which is produced by oligoadenylate synthase (OAS) after it binds viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) (2, 3). RNase L forms a crossed homodimer that is stabilized by kinase homology and ankyrin domains, which position two kinase extension nuclease domains for RNA recognition (4). RNase L then degrades both viral and cellular RNA (5). In mouse models, RNase L has been shown to produce small self-RNAs that act to amplify innate antiviral immunity through IFN-β induction (6). Research has also shown that RNase L forms a complex with Filamin A that acts as a barrier to restrict virus entry, and that RNase L can induce autophagy in response to viral infection (7, 8). Finally, research suggests RNase L may contribute to type I diabetes onset through immune response regulation (9).