Rabbit polyclonal antibody to IRF~2 (K129)

Interferon regulatory factor~1 (IRF~1) and IRF~2 have been identified as novel DNA~binding factors that function as regulators of both type I interferon (interferon~α and β) and interferon~inducible genes. The two factors are structurally related, particularly in their N~terminal regions, which confer DNA binding specificity. In addition, both bind to the same sequence within the promoters of interferon~α and interferon~β genes. IRF~1 functions as an activator of interferon transcription, while IRF~2 binds to the same cis elements and represses IRF~1 action. IRF~1 and IRF~2 have been reported to act in a mutually antagonistic manner in regulating cell growth; overexpression of the repressor IRF~2 leads to cell transformation while concomitant overexpression of IRF~1 causes reversion. IRF~1 and IRF~2 are members of a larger family of DNA binding proteins that includes IRF~3, IRF~4, IRF~5, IRF~6, IRF~7, ISGF~3γ p48 (the 48 kDa component of the ISGF~3 complex) and IFN consensus sequence~binding protein (ICSBP).