TRAF2, or Tumor Necrosis factor (TNF) Receptor-Associated Factor 2, is an adapter protein and signal transducer that links members of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family to different signaling pathways by association with the receptor cytoplasmic domain and kinases. Association to the receptor is also mediated by the interaction with TRADD. TRAF2 mediates activation of NF-kappa-B and MAPK8/JNK and is involved in apoptosis. TRAF2 forms a heterodimeric complex with TRAF1, which then recruits the inhibitor-of-apoptosis proteins (IAPs), apoptotic suppressors BIRC2 and BIRC3 to TNFRSF1B/TNFR2 for the inhibition of caspase activation. In this way it functions as a mediator of the anti-apoptotic signals from TNF receptors. BIRC2/c-IAP1, an apoptosis inhibitor possessing ubiquitin ligase activity, can unbiquitinate and induce the degradation of this protein, and thus potentiate TNF-induced apoptosis. TRAF2 may be involved in IL-15 signaling. Multiple alternatively spliced transcript variants exist, but the biological validity of only one transcript has been determined.
This affinity purified antibody was prepared from whole rabbit serum produced by repeated immunizations with a synthetic peptide corresponding to an internal region human TRAF2.