IFNAR2
Description
The IFNAR2 (interferon alpha and beta receptor subunit 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 21.
IFNAR2, the gene encoding the interferon-alpha/beta receptor beta chain, produces a type I membrane protein that acts as one of the two chains in the receptor for interferons alpha and beta. When the receptor is activated by binding of interferon, it triggers the Janus protein kinases (JAKs), which in turn phosphorylate proteins like STAT1 and STAT2. This gene has multiple transcript variants that encode at least two different isoforms. IFNAR2 interacts with GNB2L1, IFNA2, STAT1, and STAT2.
IFNAR2, along with IFNAR1, forms a receptor for type I interferons, which include interferon alpha, beta, epsilon, omega, and kappa. When type I interferons bind to the receptor, they activate the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, leading to changes in gene expression that are involved in the immune response. This process involves the JAK kinases TYK2 and JAK1, which are associated with IFNAR1 and IFNAR2, respectively. Upon binding of interferon, the JAK kinases phosphorylate each other, which in turn phosphorylates STAT transcription factors, including STAT1, STAT2, and STAT. These phosphorylated STAT proteins then move into the nucleus and regulate the expression of interferon-regulated genes. IFNAR2 is also known to interact with USP18, which indirectly regulates the assembly of the interferon-IFNAR1-IFNAR2 complex and therefore type I interferon signaling.
IFNAR2 is also known as IFN-R, IFN-R-2, IFN-alpha-REC, IFNABR, IFNARB, IMD45.
