Interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 2 (IFIT2)

IFN-induced antiviral protein that inhibits expression of viral messenger RNAs lacking 2'-O-methylation of the 5' cap. The ribose 2'-O-methylation would offer a molecular signature to distinguish between self and non-self mRNAs by the host during viral infection.

Viruses evolved several ways to evade this restriction system for example encoding their own 2'-O-methylase for their mRNAs or by stealing host cap containing both'-O- methylation (cap snatching mechanism). Binds AU-rich viral RNAs, with or without 5' triphosphorylation, RNA-binding is required for antiviral activity.