2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase 1 (OAS1)

2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 is a member of the 2-5A synthetase family, essential proteins involved in the innate immune response to viral infection.

The encoded protein is induced by interferons and uses adenosine triphosphate in 2'-specific nucleotidyl transfer reactions to synthesize 2',5'-oligoadenylates (2-5As). These molecules activate latent RNase L, which results in viral RNA degradation and the inhibition of viral replication. The three known members of this gene family are located in a cluster on chromosome 12. Mutations in this gene have been associated with host susceptibility to viral infection. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described.