Background：Major E3 ligase for ISG15 conjugation. Acts as a positive regulator of innate antiviral response in cells induced by interferon. Functions as part of the ISGylation machinery that recognizes target proteins in a broad and relatively non-specific manner. Catalyzes ISGylation of IRF3 which results in sustained activation, it attenuates IRF3-PIN1 interaction, which antagonizes IRF3 ubiquitination and degradation, and boosts the antiviral response. Catalyzes ISGylation of influenza A viral NS1 which attenuates virulence; ISGylated NS1 fails to form homodimers and thus to interact with its RNA targets. Catalyzes ISGylation of papillomavirus type 16 L1 protein which results in dominant-negative effect on virus infectivity. Physically associated with polyribosomes, broadly modifies newly synthesized proteins in a cotranslational manner. In an interferon-stimulated cell, newly translated viral proteins are primary targets of ISG15.
