A study has provided new insights into TRIM25, a protein that plays a critical role in the immune response to RNA viruses. Researchers have long known that TRIM25 is involved in the body’s defense mechanisms, but its exact function has remained unclear—particularly how its ability to bind RNA relates to its antiviral activity.
Using advanced biophysical techniques, scientists pinpointed the key residues that allow TRIM25 to bind to RNA. They also created a mutant version of the protein, TRIM25-m9, which cannot bind RNA. Through their experiments, including the use of iCLIP2 technology in both virus-infected and uninfected cells, the team discovered that TRIM25 specifically targets viral RNA, and that this RNA interaction is essential for the protein’s ability to fight viruses.
The findings establish a direct link between TRIM25’s RNA-binding ability and its role in the immune response, offering a clearer understanding of how our bodies combat RNA viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2.