title: The catcher in the RIG-I.
abstract: Retinoic-acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) is a major pattern recognition receptor of the innate immune system. RIG-I is a cytoplasmic RNA helicase that is able to bind virus-specific RNA structures. Activated RIG-I switches into a conformation that locks the ligand RNA and signals via the MAVS-IRF-3 axis, resulting in the upregulation of antiviral interferons. Recent evidence suggests that the binding of RIG-I to regulatory RNA structures of two major human pathogens, influenza A virus and hepatitis B virus, can inhibit viral replication independent of the subsequent signal transduction. Thus, RIG-I rides a two-pronged attack, with an early-hitting, direct inhibition via occupancy of viral regulatory RNA structures, and a delayed response via signaling and induction of interferons.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Virology, FB10-Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, D-35392 Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: friedemann.weber@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Friedemann
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000071457:DEAD Box Protein 58; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / Q000276:immunology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: C494232:IRF3 protein, human; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D038621:Regulatory Sequences, Ribonucleic Acid; C452820:RIGI protein, human; D000071457:DEAD Box Protein 58; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases
keywords: Antiviral activity; Interferon induction; Pathogen recognition receptor; RIG-I