What are Zinc-Finger Antiviral Proteins (ZAP)?

What are Zinc-Finger Antiviral Proteins (ZAP)?

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By Lois Zoppi, BAReviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.

Human cells are equipped with several mechanisms with which they can stem the spread of viral infections throughout the body.

Zinc-finger antiviral proteins (ZAP) are produced by both human and animal cells to stop the spread of viruses by targeting viral mRNA, which can lead to innate immune mechanisms against infections.