Chromosomal localization and expression pattern of the RNase L inhibitor gene.

2-5A-Dependent RNase (RNase L), an important component of the 2-5A pathway, is directly implicated in the molecular mechanism of interferon action. We have cloned and sequenced following immunoscreening, a full-length cDNA that encodes the RNase L inhibitor (RLI). Northern blot analysis from a variety of human tissues revealed that two transcript forms (3.8 kb and 2.4 kb) are ubiquitously expressed but differences in levels of expression suggest a tissue-specific regulation. The RLI gene was localized to locus 4q31 by in situ hybridization indicating that this gene and other enzymes of the 2-5A pathway are not organized in cluster in the human genome.