Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes
10:00

High-throughput Quantitative Real-time RT-PCR Assay for Determining Expression Profiles of Types I and III Interferon Subtypes

Published on: March 24, 2015

[Modulation of the action of interferon-gamma by protein G]

M Gariglio1, G Cavallo, S Landolfo

  • 1Istituto di Microbiologia, Università di Torino, Italy.

Giornale Di Batteriologia, Virologia Ed Immunologia
|July 1, 1986
PubMed

Insights

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) signaling involves a G protein similar to Gs, unlike Interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta). This difference impacts antiviral state induction, highlighting distinct cellular responses to interferons.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular signaling pathways
  • Immunology
  • Molecular biology

Context:

  • Interferons (IFNs) are crucial for innate and adaptive immunity.
  • Understanding IFN signal transduction is key to developing antiviral and anticancer therapies.
  • Specific intracellular messengers mediate IFN effects after receptor binding.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the intracellular second messengers involved in IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma signaling.
  • To elucidate the role of G proteins in IFN signal transduction pathways.
  • To differentiate the molecular mechanisms of IFN-gamma and IFN-alpha/beta action.

Summary:

  • Vibrio cholerae toxin (activating Gs) potentiated IFN-gamma but not IFN-alpha/beta.
  • Bordetella pertussis toxin (acting on Gi) did not affect either IFN type.
  • Forskolin and PGE1 (increasing cAMP) blocked IFN-gamma's antiviral effect but not IFN-alpha/beta's.
  • These findings indicate IFN-gamma signaling utilizes a G protein resembling Gs.

Impact:

  • Provides a clearer understanding of distinct IFN signaling pathways.
  • Suggests potential therapeutic targets for modulating specific IFN responses.
  • Highlights the differential roles of G proteins in mediating cytokine effects.

More Related Videos

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses10:10

Experimental Infection with Listeria monocytogenes as a Model for Studying Host Interferon-γ Responses

Published on: November 16, 2016

Imaging of In Situ Interferon Gamma Production in the Mouse Spleen following Listeria monocytogenes Infection09:11

Imaging of In Situ Interferon Gamma Production in the Mouse Spleen following Listeria monocytogenes Infection

Published on: July 16, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade01:22

Amplifying Signals via Enzymatic Cascade

When a ligand binds to a cell-surface receptor, the receptor's intracellular domain changes shape, which may either activate its enzyme function or allow its binding to other molecules. The initial signal is amplified by most signal transduction pathways. This means that a single ligand molecule can activate multiple molecules of a downstream target. Proteins that relay a signal are most commonly phosphorylated at one or more sites, activating or inactivating the protein. Kinases catalyze the...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway01:20

The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as  SH2...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins01:22

Activation and Inactivation of G Proteins

Heterotrimeric G proteins are guanine nucleotide-binding proteins. As the name suggests, heterotrimeric G proteins are composed of three subunits: alpha, beta, and gamma. They remain GDP-bound or GTP-bound inside the cells and switch between inactive/active states. The Gα subunit possesses the nucleotide-binding pocket that binds guanine nucleotides and switches between GDP or GTP-bound states. In contrast, the Gꞵ and Gγ subunits are always bound together with high affinity and are together...
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...