The ISG20 gene (ISG20 stands for: Interferon Stimulated Exonuclease Gene 20) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 15q26.1. Activities associated with this gene include nucleic acid binding and 3'-5' RNA exonuclease activity. Associated pathways include cytokine signaling in the immune system and antiviral activities through IFN-stimulated genes. An important paralog of this gene is AEN.
ISG20 gene
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General informationThis section has been translated automatically.
The protein encoded by the ISG20 gene is an interferon-induced antiviral exoribonuclease that acts mainly on single-stranded RNA (Nguyen LH et al. 2001). The enzyme is located in the cytoplasm and in the nuclear lumen. It shows antiviral activity against RNA viruses, including hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis A virus (HAV) and yellow fever virus (YFV) (Pu Zhou Z et al. 2011). Inhibition of several viruses such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV) does not involve degradation of viral RNAs, but inhibition of translation of viral proteins . The ISG20 protein exerts translational control over a large group of non-endogenous RNA substrates, while endogenous transcripts are spared. This activity correlates with the protein's ability to localize to cytoplasmic processing bodies (Wu N et al. 2019).
It can also act as a master regulator of over a hundred interferon-stimulated genes, leading to inhibition of viral genome translation. It can probably play additional roles in the maturation of snRNAs and rRNAs as well as in ribosome biogenesis.
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Diseases associated with ISG20 include hepatitis C and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.
UV and lupus erythematosus: To date, 14 UVB response genes (UVBACGs) correlating with lupus activity have been identified, including eight type I interferon-stimulated genes(IRF7, ISG20, ISG15, IFI44, IFITM1, MX1, LY6E, OASL) and 6 others (JUN, PTTG1, HLA-F, CAV1, HOPX, RPL3). Their significance has not yet been finally clarified.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Nguyen LH et al. (2001) The human interferon- and estrogen-regulated ISG20/HEM45 gene product degrades single-stranded RNA and DNA in vitro. Biochemistry 40:7174-7179.
- Zhou Z et al. (2011) Antiviral activities of ISG20 in positive-strand RNA virus infections. Virology 409:175-188.
- Wu N et al. (2019) The interferon stimulated gene 20 protein (ISG20) is an innate defense antiviral factor that discriminates self- versus non-self translation. PLoS Pathog 15:e1008093.