Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Antiviral Agents, Humans, Interferon Regulatory Factors, Molecular Sequence Data, Ubiquitin, Ubiquitination
The IRF [IFN (interferon) regulatory factor] family of transcription factors control many cellular processes, including induction of key antiviral cytokines, type I IFNs, following viral infection. Recent studies have revealed several endogenous and viral proteins involved in ubiquitin-mediated regulation of IRF activity and thus having an impact on type I IFN signalling. Through the ubiquitin pathway, these proteins can manipulate the antiviral response either by initiating proteasomal degradation of the IRFs or, in contrast, by promoting activation of the IRFs.
Higgs R, Jefferies CA. Targeting IRFs by ubiquitination: regulating antiviral responses. Biochemical Society Transactions 2008;36(3):453-8.