MX2 (MX Dynamin Like GTPase 2)
A key interferon-induced GTPase involved in antiviral defense and nuclear pore complex regulation.
Gene Information Card
| Symbol | MX2 |
|---|---|
| Full Name | MX Dynamin Like GTPase 2 |
| Gene Type | protein-coding |
| Chromosomal Location | 21q22.3 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 4600 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/4600 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000183486 |
| UniProt ID | P20592 |
| OMIM ID | 147890 |
| HGNC ID | 7533 |
| Aliases | MXB, MxB, p78, interferon-regulated resistance GTPase MxB |
Description
MX2 (MX Dynamin Like GTPase 2) encodes a member of the dynamin superfamily of GTPases. The protein is induced by type I and type III interferons and localizes to the nuclear pore complex. It plays a critical role in the innate immune response by restricting the replication of several viruses, including HIV-1, herpesviruses, and influenza A virus. MX2 inhibits viral nuclear import and capsid uncoating, acting as a potent antiviral effector.
Disease Associations
| Disease category | Pathophysiological mechanism | Genomic evidence |
|---|---|---|
| HIV-1 infection | MX2 blocks HIV-1 nuclear entry by interacting with the viral capsid and the nuclear pore complex Nup214-RanBP2 pathway. | PMID: 23966833, 23966834 |
| Influenza A virus infection | MX2 restricts influenza A virus replication by inhibiting viral ribonucleoprotein nuclear import. | PMID: 27512013 |
| Herpes simplex virus 1 infection | MX2 inhibits HSV-1 replication by targeting the viral capsid and preventing nuclear entry. | PMID: 27512013 |
| Hepatitis B virus infection | MX2 suppresses HBV replication by reducing viral RNA and protein levels. | PMID: 31996471 |
| Primary biliary cholangitis | MX2 expression is upregulated in biliary epithelial cells and may contribute to disease pathogenesis. | PMID: 26116757 |
Expression Profile
Tissue Expression
| Tissue | nTPM | level |
|---|---|---|
| Liver | 12.5 | Medium |
| Lung | 8.3 | Medium |
| Spleen | 15.1 | Medium |
| Lymph node | 10.2 | Medium |
| Bone marrow | 6.7 | Low |
| Whole blood | 3.4 | Low |
| Brain | 1.2 | Not detected |
Cell Line Expression
| Cell Line | nTPM | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HeLa | 18.5 | IFN-inducible |
| HEK293 | 14.2 | IFN-inducible |
| THP-1 | 22.1 | Monocyte; IFN-inducible |
| HepG2 | 9.8 | Hepatocyte; IFN-inducible |
| A549 | 11.3 | Lung epithelial; IFN-inducible |
Data source：Human Protein Atlas（proteinatlas.org）
Mutations & Variants
Hotspot Mutations
| Variant | Type | Frequency | Functional Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| c.1A>G (p.Met1?) | missense | <0.01% | Loss of start codon; predicted loss of function |
| c.148C>T (p.Arg50*) | nonsense | <0.01% | Premature stop; loss of function |
| c.1045G>A (p.Glu349Lys) | missense | <0.01% | Unknown significance; may affect GTPase activity |
Mutation functional classification
Loss of Function (LOF)
Nonsense and frameshift mutations leading to truncated or absent protein.
Gain of Function (GOF)
Not reported.
Dominant Negative (DN)
Not reported.
View complete mutation data：
Gene Ontology (GO)
| • GTP binding | • GTPase activity |
| • nuclear pore binding | • viral capsid binding |
| • cytoplasm | • nucleus |
| • nuclear pore | • innate immune response |
| • defense response to virus | • negative regulation of viral entry into host cell |
Pathways
• Interferon alpha/beta signaling
• Interferon gamma signaling
• Innate immune system
• Host-virus interaction
Protein Summary
The MX2 protein (also known as MxB) is a 78 kDa dynamin-like GTPase that is strongly induced by interferons. It localizes to the cytoplasmic face of the nuclear pore complex, where it interacts with nucleoporins such as Nup214 and RanBP2. MX2 restricts HIV-1 infection by binding to the viral capsid and blocking its nuclear import. It also inhibits other viruses, including influenza A and herpes simplex virus 1. The protein contains an N-terminal GTPase domain and a C-terminal stalk domain essential for oligomerization and antiviral activity.
Related Services
Related Products
| Product name | Cat.No. | Species | Gene ID | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX2 Knockout HEK293 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ3621 | Human | 4600 | Details Get a Quote |
| MX2 Knockout HeLa Cell Line | EDJ-KQ53928 | Human | 4600 | Details Get a Quote |
| MX2 Knockout A-549 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ62421 | Human | 4600 | Details Get a Quote |
| MX2 Knockout HCT 116 Cell Line | EDJ-KQ70889 | Human | 4600 | Details Get a Quote |
