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Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Dissecting Host-virus Interaction in Lytic Replication of a Model Herpesvirus
Published on: October 7, 2011
Helicases in Antiviral Immunity: Dual Properties as Sensors and Effectors
1Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Abstract:
Many helicases have a unique ability to couple cognate RNA binding to ATP hydrolysis, which can induce a large conformational change that affects its interaction with RNA, position along RNA, or oligomeric state. A growing number of these helicases contribute to the innate immune system, either as sensors that detect foreign nucleic acids and/or as effectors that directly participate in the clearance of such foreign species. In this review, we discuss a few examples, including retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I), melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5), and Dicer, focusing on their dual functions as both sensors and effectors. We will also discuss the closely related, but less understood, helicases, laboratory of genetics and physiology 2 (LGP2) and Dicer-related helicase-1 and -3 (DRH-1 and -3).
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