INTERFERON-INDUCIBLE MOLECULE IPS-1

摘要

Disclosed are a novel signal transducing molecule capable of inducing the production of a type I interferon (IFN) such as ß-interferon (IFN-ß) and a gene for the molecule. A novel molecule IPS-1 can be identified by the high-throughput screening for a type I IFN-inducible molecule. The overexpression of IPS-1 induces the production of a type I IFN and an IFN-inducible gene through the activation of IRF3, IRF7 and NF-?B, leading to the induction of an anti-viral response. TBK1 and IKKi are necessary for the IPS-1-mediated activation of a type I IFN promoter. The expression of IPS-1 stimulates an endogenous promoter for a type I IFN gene. IPS-1 is composed of two domains: one is an N-terminal CARD-like domain which can associate with RIG-I; and the other is a C-terminal effecter domain which recruits FADD and RIP1. IPS-1 is considered to be a novel adapter protein which mediates an RIG-I-dependent anti-viral response.