title: Diverse functions of RNase L and implications in pathology.
abstract: The endoribonuclease L (RNase L) is the effector of the 2-5A system, a major enzymatic pathway involved in the molecular mechanism of interferons (IFNs). RNase L is a very unusual nuclease with a complex mechanism of regulation. It is a latent enzyme, expressed in nearly every mammalian cell type. Its activation requires its binding to a small oligonucleotide, 2-5A. 2-5A is a series of unique 5'-triphosphorylated oligoadenylates with 2'-5' phosphodiester bonds. By regulating viral and cellular RNA expression, RNase L plays an important role in the antiviral and antiproliferative activities of IFN and contributes to innate immunity and cell metabolism. The 2-5A/RNase L pathway is implicated in mediating apoptosis in response to viral infections and to several types of external stimuli. Several recent studies have suggested that RNase L could have a role in cancer biology and evidence of a tumor suppressor function of RNase L has emerged from studies on the genetics of hereditary prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: IGH UPR CNRS 1142, 141 rue de la Cardonille, 34396 Montpellier, France. catherine.bisbal@igh.cnrs.fr
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bisbal
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D004722:Endoribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D004722:Endoribonucleases; C031956:2-5A-dependent ribonuclease