- Sequesters dsRNA required for activating the 2`-5` oligo-adenylate synthetase (OAS)/RNase L. The OAS/RNase L system is an innate immunity pathway that responds to dsRNA as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern molecule (PAMP) to induce degradation of viral and cellular RNAs and thereby block viral infections.- Sequesters dsRNA, PKR, and OAS/RNase L, required to induce IFN and to trigger apoptosis following IAV infection. Sequestration of these elements and inhibition through interaction with NS1 interferes with IAV-induced apoptosis. Here, RNASEL is linked to viral infectious disease.