| Modification Notes |
The 2'-, 5'- oligoadenylate synthetases (OASs) are interferon-induced proteins that play a putative role in mediating resistance to virus infection, control of cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. OAS1, which functions as a homotetramer, is characterized by its capacity to catalyze the synthesis of 2'-, 5'- oligomers of adenosine (2-5As). OAS1 is also important in evaluating the interferon response in RNAi studies and is implicated in diabetes mellitus susceptibility. OASL1 (2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase-like 1) is an enzyme that, due to the evolutionary loss of its 2–5A synthetase activity, is suspected to have a novel function independent of 2-5A synthesis. OASL2 has both enzymatic activity and a ubquitin-like domain, acting as a functional intermediate between the active OAS species and the inactive OASL1. |