Background：

This gene is induced by interferons and encodes a protein that synthesizes 2’，5’-oligoadenylates (2-5As). This protein activates latent RNase L， which results in viral RNA degradation and the inhibition of viral replication. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants with different enzymatic activities. Polymorphisms in this gene have been associated with susceptibility to viral infection and diabetes mellitus， type 1. A disease-associated allele in a splice acceptor site influences the production of the p46 splice isoform. This gene is located in a cluster of related genes on chromosome 12.