Ribonuclease that plays an essential role in innate immune response by recognizing and degrading RNAs from microbial pathogens that are subsequently sensed by TLR8 . Cleaves preferentially single-stranded RNA molecules between purine and uridine residues, which critically contributes to the supply of catabolic uridine and the generation of purine-2',3'-cyclophosphate-terminated oligoribonucleotides . In turn, RNase T2 degradation products promote the RNA-dependent activation of TLR8 . Plays also a key role in degradation of mitochondrial RNA and processing of non-coding RNA imported from the cytosol into mitochondria . Participates as well in degradation of mitochondrion-associated cytosolic rRNAs .
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Cellular Localization:
Secreted . Lysosome lumen . Endoplasmic reticulum lumen . Mitochondrion intermembrane space . Full-length RNASET2 is found in the endoplasmic reticulum while smaller RNASET2 proteolytic products are found in the lysosome fraction. .
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Tissue Expression:
Ubiquitous. Higher expression levels observed in the temporal lobe and fetal brain.