[7] This gene encodes a component of the interferon-regulated 2'-5'oligoadenylate (2'-5'A) system that functions in the antiviral and antiproliferative roles of interferons.

When interferon binds to cell receptors, it activates transcription of around 300 genes to bring about the antiviral state.

[8] The transcribed RNA is then spliced and modified in the nucleus before reaching the cytoplasm and being translated into an inactive form of OAS.

In its activated form RNase L cleaves all RNA molecules in the cell leading to autophagy and apoptosis.

[10] This dimerization and activation of RNase L can be recognized using Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), as oligoribonucleotides containing a quencher and a fluorophore on opposite sites are added to a solution with inactive RNase L. The FRET signal is then recorded as the quencher and the fluorophore are very close to each other.

[13] MDA5, an RNA helicase, is known to be activated by complex high molecular weight dsRNA transcribed from the viral genome.