IFIT1

Plays a key role in the innate immune response as part of an interferon-dependent multiprotein complex, recognizing and sequestering viral RNAs that lack host-specific 2'-O-methylation at their 5' cap. By distinguishing these RNAs from host mRNAs, inhibits their translation by competing with the translation initiation factor eIF4E. Could also prevent viral replication through its interaction with DNA replication origin-binding protein E1 of several viruses. Causes the translocation of E1 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and can also inhibit its helicase activity in vitro. Exhibits antiviral activity against many viruses from the Flaviviridae (West Nile virus, Dengue virus, hepatitis C virus), Coronaviridae (human 229E coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV), Poxviridae (vaccinia virus) and Togaviridae (Sindbis virus) families..

Function from UniProtKB (P09914), read 2026-09-23. CC BY 4.0.