Background:
Acts as a regulator of DDX58/RIG-I and IFIH1/MDA5 mediated antiviral signaling. Cannot initiate antiviral signaling as it lacks the CARD domain required for activating MAVS/IPS1-dependent signaling events. Can have both negative and positive regulatory functions related to DDX58/RIG-I and IFIH1/MDA5 signaling and this role in regulating signaling may be complex and could probably depend on characteristics of the infecting virus or target cells,or both. Its inhibitory action on DDX58/RIG-I signaling may involve the following mechanisms: competition with DDX58/RIG-I for binding to the viral RNA,binding to DDX58/RIG-I and inhibiting its dimerization and interaction with MAVS/IPS1,competing with IKBKE in its binding to MAVS/IPS1 thereby inhibiting activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3. Its positive regulatory role may involve unwinding or stripping nucleoproteins of viral RNA thereby facilitating their recognition by DDX58/RIG-I and IFIH1/MDA5. Involved in the innate immune response to various