Interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 2 is a member of the interferon regulatory transcription factor family. IRF-2 is generally regarded as an oncoprotein. Structure of IRF1 and IRF2 are similar. However, its functions are different. IRF2 competitively inhibits the IRF1-mediated transcriptional activation of interferons alpha and beta, and presumably other genes that employ IRF1 for transcription activation. Recombinant human IRF2 was expressed in E.coli and purified by using conventional chromatography techniques.