Q1: What is IFIT1? IFIT1 encodes an interferon-stimulated protein that is rapidly induced during viral infection and plays a key role in innate immune responses.
Q2: What is the function of IFIT1 in antiviral defense? IFIT1 binds viral RNA lacking proper 5′ cap methylation and inhibits its translation, thereby suppressing viral replication.
Q3: Why is IFIT1 important in immunology research? IFIT1 is a critical mediator of interferon signaling and is commonly used to study host–virus interactions and antiviral mechanisms.