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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

A High Resolution Method to Monitor Phosphorylation-dependent Activation of IRF3
Published on: January 24, 2016
Ube1L and protein ISGylation are not essential for alpha/beta interferon signaling
Keun Il Kim1, Ming Yan, Oxana Malakhova
1Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Mailstop L-51, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Abstract:
The expression of ubiquitin-like modifier ISG15 and its conjugation to target proteins are highly induced by interferon (IFN) stimulation and during viral and bacterial infections. However, the biological significance of this modification has not been clearly understood. To investigate the function of protein modification by ISG15, we generated a mouse model deficient in UBE1L, an ISG15-activating enzyme. Ube1L-/- mice did not produce ISG15 conjugates but expressed free ISG15 normally. ISGylation has been implicated in the reproduction and innate immunity. However, Ube1L-/- mice were fertile and exhibited normal antiviral responses against vesicular stomatitis virus and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection. Our results indicate that UBE1L and protein ISGylation are not critical for IFN-alpha/beta signaling via JAK/STAT activation. Moreover, using Ube1L/Ubp43 double-deficient mice, we showed that lack of UBP43, but not the increase of protein ISGylation, is related to the increased IFN signaling in Ubp43-deficient mice.
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