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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2022 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Opin Microbiol. 2020 Aug 20;59:50–57. doi: 10.1016/j.mib.2020.07.005

Figure 2. Major antiviral functions of TRIM proteins.

Figure 2.

TRIM proteins employ at least three major antiviral mechanisms: (i) modulation of autophagy, a cell-intrinsic autodigestive pathway that limits the replication of certain viruses; (ii) regulation of cytokine induction and cytokine-mediated antiviral innate immune responses; and (iii) direct targeting of viral components, which triggers their degradation or inhibits their functions in key steps of the viral lifecycle. Of note, while some TRIM proteins utilize one of the three antiviral mechanisms, several TRIMs exert immunomodulatory functions and also directly antagonize viral pathogens. Exemplary TRIM proteins involved in specific steps of the antiviral response are indicated. RBCC, RING-BBox-coiled-coil motif.