Interferon gamma is recognised by importin alpha/beta: enhanced nuclear localising and transactivation activities of an interferon gamma mimetic
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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses
Published on: November 16, 2016
Alex J Fulcher1, Chulbul M I Ahmed, Ezra N Noon-Song
1Nuclear Signaling Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, P.O. Box 13D, Victoria, Clayton 3800, Australia.
Abstract:
Interferon (IFN) gamma's ability to localise in the nucleus and function in gene activation has been known for some time, although the role of the conventional nuclear transporting importin molecules is unclear. Here, we demonstrate for the first time the direct recognition of IFNgamma and an IFNgamma mimetic peptide by IMPalpha and the IMPalpha/beta heterodimer, where the IFNgamma mimetic shows higher affinity. Significantly, this correlates well both with in vivo ability to target green fluorescent protein to the nucleus in transfected cells as determined by quantitative confocal laser scanning microscopy, as well as GAS promoter activity of a luciferase reporter. This has important implications for IFNgamma's anti-viral action, and the potential use of the IFNgamma mimetic in antiviral therapies.
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