IRF1 encodes interferon regulatory factor 1, a member of the interferon regulatory transcription factor (IRF) family. Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) and IRF-2 have been identified as novel DNA-binding factors that function as regulators of both type I interferon (interferon-α and β) and interferon-inducible genes. The two factors are structurally related, particularly in their N-terminal regions, which confer DNA binding specificity. IRF1 serves as an activator of interferons alpha and beta transcription, and in mouse it has been shown to be required for double-stranded RNA induction of these genes. IRF1 also functions as a transcription activator of genes induced by interferons alpha, beta, and gamma.
