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The Sound of Evolution
Interferon α
Mechanism of action:
Interferon α is a cytokine belonging to the type I interferon family. It binds to the IFNAR receptor on the surface of nearly all nucleated cells, activating the downstream JAK-STAT signaling pathway. This results in phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT2 proteins, which then combine with IRF9 to form the ISGF3 complex. ISGF3 enters the nucleus and binds to interferon-stimulated response elements (ISRE) in DNA, thereby inducing the expression of a wide range of genes involved in antiviral and immune functions.
Reference(s):
Radhakrishnan R et al. (1996). Zinc mediated dimer of human interferon-alpha 2b revealed by X-ray crystallography. Structure.
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