2-5A-dependent ribonuclease (RNASEL)

Endoribonuclease that works in the interferon (IFN) antiviral reaction. In INF virus and treated infected cells, RNASEL likely mediates its antiviral effects through a combination of direct cleavage of single-stranded viral RNAs, inhibition of protein synthesis through the degradation of rRNA, induction of apoptosis, and induction of other antiviral genes.

RNASEL mediated apoptosis is caused by a JNK-dependent stress- response pathway resulting in cytochrome c release from mitochondria and caspase-dependent apoptosis. Consequently, activation of RNASEL could lead to elimination of virus infected cells under some circumstances.