Background of the antigen
TANK was initially identified as a novel TRAF-interacting protein that regulated TRAF-mediated signal transduction. Specifically, ligand binding by surface receptors in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor and Toll/interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor families lead to the formation of a TRAF/TANK complex that mediates the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. TANK is found in the cytoplasm and can bind to TRAF1, TRAF2, or TRAF3, thereby inhibiting TRAF function by sequestering the TRAFs in a latent state in the cytoplasm. For example, this protein can block TRAF2 binding to LMP1, the Epstein Barr virus transforming protein, and inhibit LMP1-mediated NF kappa B activation.
