RIG-like Receptors

Retinoic acid inducible gene (RIG)-like receptors (RLRs) are pattern-recognition receptors expressed in the cytosol of cells, where they bind viral RNA. Viral RNA is different in several aspects from mammalian RNA and so can be detected by these molecules. on interacting with viral RNA, RLRs initiate a cellular anti-viral response and the production of antiviral cytokines called interferons.