TLR7 is a viral RNA-detecting protein. The viral RNA-binding part is inside the endosome or lysosome and consists of 26 leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains. There is a part of the protein that passes through the membrane (transmembrane domain) and the part of the protein that stimulates antiviral signaling is in the cytosol. Binding to viral RNA or activating drugs stimulates two receptor subunits to interact and the cytosolic parts to signal. [Credit: Nancy R. Gough, BioSerendipity, LLC]
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