Chipens G I, Klusha V E, Ievinia N G, Tsilinskis E E, Skliarova S N
Fiziol Zh SSSR Im I M Sechenova. 1989 May;75(5):638-45.
The oligopeptides effecting signalling functions are postulated to emerge from protein precursors by limited proteolytic cleavage in close vicinity to appropriate cell receptors. A variety of immunological activities of interferons are probably mediated by this mechanism. The C-terminal tripeptides liberated from IFN-alpha in limited proteolysis reactions may result in a variety of polarins eliciting a wide spectrum of immunoregulatory effects, which in combination with the antiviral activity of IFN are responsible for effective defense mechanisms in the organism.
