IFITM1

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the IFITM1 is_associated_with::gene. IFITM1 has also recently been designated CD225 (is_associated_with::cluster of differentiation 225). This protein has several additional names: fragilis (human homolog of the mouse protein), IFI17 [interferon-induced protein 17], 9-27 [Interferon-inducible protein 9-27] and Leu13.

IFITM1 is a member of the IFITM family (Interferon-induced transmembrane protein) which is encoded by IFITM genes. The human IFITM genes locate on chromosome 11 and have four members: IFITM1, IFITM2, IFITM3 and IFITM5. While the mouse Ifitm genes locate on chromosome 7 and 16 and have six members: Ifitm1, is_associated_with::Ifitm2, is_associated_with::Ifitm3, is_associated_with::Ifitm5, is_associated_with::Ifitm6 and is_associated_with::Ifitm7.

Molecular biology
The IFITM1 gene is located on the Watson (plus) strand of the short arm of is_associated_with::chromosome 11 (11p15.5) and is 3,956 bases in length. The encoded protein has 125 is_associated_with::amino acids (molecular weight 13.964 kDa).

It is an intrinsic membrane protein and is predicted to cross the membrane several times.

Structure and function
IFITM proteins have a short N-terminal and C-terminal domain, two transmembrane domains (TM1 and TM2) and a short cytoplasmic domain. The first transmembrane domain (TM1) and the cytoplasmic domain are conserved among different IFITM proteins in human and mouse. In the absence of interferon stimulation, IFITM proteins can express broadly in tissues and cell lines. In human, ITITM1, IFITM2 and IFITM3 are able to express in different tissues and cells while the expression of IFITM5 is limited to osteoblasts. The type I and II interferon induce IFITM proteins expression significantly. IFITM proteins are involved in the physiological process of immune response signaling, germ cell maturation and development.

Biochemistry
The gene is induced by is_associated_with::interferon and the protein forms part of the signaling pathway.

Antiviral function of IFITM proteins
By using genomic screening for cellular factors which are involved in influenza A virus life cycle such as entry, replication and release, IFITM proteins have been identified as antiviral restriction factors for influenza A virus replication. Knockout IFITM3 increased influenza virus A replication and overexpression IFITM3 inhibits influenza virus A replication. In addition to replication competent influenza A virus, IFITM proteins were able to inhibit retrovirus based psedotyped influenza A virus, indicating that IFITM protein inhibit influenza A virus at the early step of life cycle, may occur in the entry and fusion steps.

IFITM proteins also are able to inhibit several other enveloped viruses infection that belong to different virus families. These virus include flaviviruses (dengue virus and West Nile virus), filoviruses (Marburg virus and Ebola virus) coronaviruses (SARS coronavirus) and lentivirus (Human immunodeficiency virus). However, IFITM proteins did not affect alphaviruses, arenaviruses and murine leukaemia virus infection.

Potential mechanisms.IFITM proteins inhibit viral membrane and cellular endosomal or lyso¬somal vesicles membrane fusion by modify lipid components or fluidity. IFITM proteins blocked the creation of hemifusion between viral membrane and cellular membrane. Furthermore, IFITM proteins reduced membrane fluidity and affected membrane curvature to restrict viral membrane fusion with the cellular membrane. In addition, IFITM3 interacted with the cellular cholesterol regulatory proteins Vesicle-membrane-protein-associated protein A (VAPA) and oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) to induce intracellular cholesterol accumulation, which in turn blocked viral membrane and vesicles membrane fusion.