IFITM2
IFITM2 (interferon-induced transmembrane protein 2, also known as 1-8D and DSPA2c) is an interferon-induced antiviral protein that restricts the entry of diverse viruses into the host cell cytoplasm. It belongs to the CD225/dispanin family of membrane proteins. Browse Assay Genie's current range of IFITM2 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
IFITM2 is an interferon-induced antiviral protein that inhibits the entry of viruses into the host cell cytoplasm. It permits endocytosis of the virus but prevents the subsequent viral fusion and release of viral contents into the cytosol. Activity has been reported against multiple viruses, including influenza A virus, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, Dengue virus, West Nile virus, HIV-1, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and vesicular stomatitis virus. It can inhibit viral entry mediated by influenza haemagglutinin, Marburg and Ebola GP1,2, the SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 S protein, and the VSV G protein.
The IFITM2 protein is found at the cell membrane, the lysosome membrane and the late endosome membrane, consistent with a role in the endosomal pathway. In hepatocytes, IFITM proteins act in a coordinated manner to restrict HCV infection by targeting the endocytosed virion for lysosomal degradation. IFITM2 and IFITM3 show anti-HCV activity that may complement IFITM1 by inhibiting the late stages of HCV entry, possibly by trapping the virion in the endosomal pathway and directing it to the lysosome. Beyond antiviral defence, IFITM2 is reported to induce cell cycle arrest and to mediate apoptosis through caspase activation, in a p53-independent manner.
The IFITM2 gene is one of a family of five interferon-induced transmembrane genes that includes IFITM1 and IFITM3, and its product belongs to the CD225 superfamily, also called the dispanin family. The gene has previously been named 1-8D, and DSPA2c is a recorded alias. A mouse ortholog, Ifitm2, is recognised.
IFITM2 is an interferon-induced protein that restricts cellular entry by diverse viral pathogens, making it a focus for studies of intrinsic antiviral defence.
By permitting endocytosis but blocking viral fusion, IFITM2 is used to study how enveloped viruses release their contents into the cytosol.
IFITM2 acts with IFITM1 and IFITM3 to restrict late stages of HCV entry, targeting virions for lysosomal degradation in hepatocytes.
IFITM2 is reported to induce cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent, p53-independent apoptosis, linking interferon responses to cell fate.
IFITM2 is an interferon-induced antiviral protein that inhibits viral entry into the host cell cytoplasm. It allows endocytosis but prevents viral fusion and release of viral contents into the cytosol. It has also been reported to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
IFITM2 is the HGNC symbol for interferon induced transmembrane protein 2. Recorded aliases and previous symbols include 1-8D and DSPA2c, and UniProt lists the protein as interferon-induced transmembrane protein 2. It belongs to the CD225/dispanin family.
IFITM2 is active against influenza A virus, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Marburg, Dengue, West Nile, HIV-1, HCV and VSV. A mouse ortholog, Ifitm2, exists; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other members of the IFITM family of interferon-induced antiviral proteins with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q01629; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.