Responds to a pathogen-associated molecular pattern to induce degradation of viral and cellular RNAs, blocking viral infections
Belongs to a family of interferon (IFN)- and virus-induced antiviral restriction factors that protect against a wide spectrum of RNA and DNA viruses
Viruses evade this response
Reoviridae: reovirus infection results in IFN-dependent RNaseL activation
RNaseL halts host protein synthesis during infection
Protein synthesis continues when cells lack either RNA-dependent protein kinase or RNaseL, but stops when both are absent
What happens when the pathway is activated
1. High OAS levels contribute to IFN-induced antiviral state
2. The main function of OAS is the activation of RNaseL, which is the ligand for OAS binding proteins
Activation of the protein/Pathway
1. Presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) triggers the 2′-5′ Oligoadenylate synthase/RNaseL pathway
2. The sensor in this pathway is the 2′-5′ Oligoadenylate synthase (2-5OAS) protein, which recognizes and binds to dsRNA, leading to its activation and subsequent synthesis of 2′-5′-linked oligoadenylates (2-5As)
