Asano A, et al 2003 reported that Mx is an interferon (IFN)-inducible intracellular protein found in various vertebrates that mediates
resistance against negative-strand RNA viruses. They examined the regulation of Mx2 expression in vivo using a
congenic mouse carrying Mx1 and Mx2 genes derived from feral strain SPR. Mx2 mRNA was
induced strongly in the spleen, ovary and white adipose tissue after the treatment with
IFNalpha/beta. Furthermore, they identified the structure of the Mx2 gene. It consists of 14 exons,
greatly homologous to the Mx1 gene. The promoter region of Mx2 contained two putative
IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs). These results indicate the
similarity of the mechanisms of mRNA induction among Mx genes.
NCBI Summary:
The protein encoded by this gene has a nuclear and a cytoplasmic form and is a member of both the dynamin family and the family of large GTPases. The nuclear form is localized in a granular pattern in the heterochromatin region beneath the nuclear envelope. A nuclear localization signal (NLS) is present at the amino terminal end of the nuclear form but is lacking in the cytoplasmic form due to use of an alternate translation start codon. This protein is upregulated by interferon-alpha but does not contain the antiviral activity of a similar myxovirus resistance protein 1.