Interferons (IFNs) regulate the expression of genes that mediate their antiviral, antitumor, and immunomodulatory actions. We have previously shown that IFN- suppresses growth of human ovarian carcinoma xenografts in vivo and induces apoptosis of ovarian carcinoma cells in vitro. To investigate mechanisms of IFN--induced apoptosis we employed an antisense technical knockout approach to identify gene products that mediate cell death and have isolated several regulators of interferon-induced death (RIDs). In this investigation, we have characterized one of the RIDs, RID-2. Sequence analysis revealed that RID-2 was identical to human inositol hexakisphosphate kinase 2 (IP6K2). IP6K2 is post-transcriptionally induced by IFN- in ovarian carcinoma cells. A mutant IP6K2 with substitutions in the putative inositol phosphate binding domain abrogates IFN--induced apoptosis. These studies identify a novel function for IP6K2 in cell growth regulation and apoptosis.The interferon (IFN) 1 family of cytokines stimulate antiviral, antitumor, antiproliferative, and immunoregulatory activities (1-3). Upon binding to receptors, IFNs activate a signaling cascade wherein Janus tyrosine kinases induce tyrosine phosphorylation of signal-transducing activators of transcription proteins (4, 5). These transcription factors induce expression of hundreds of genes that possess a wide range of activities (6). Although a great deal is known about antiviral actions of IFNs, mechanisms responsible for their antitumor actions are unclear. In vivo, they up-regulate expression of tumor-specific antigens, natural killer, and T cell function (7-9). IFNs also activate growth suppressive proteins such as pRb (10, 11), down-regulate c-Myc (12), and suppress activity of transcription factor E2F (13). Protein kinase R and ribonuclease L, which inhibit viral growth in IFN-treated cells (14, 15), also play a role in growth suppression (16,17). The family of transcription factors known as IFN gene regulatory factors (IRFs) also mediates the effects of IFNs (18). Two members of this family, IRF-1 and interferon consensus sequence-binding protein (IRF-8) are up-regulated by IFN-␥. Deletion of these genes results in myelodysplasias or chronic myelogenous leukemialike disease (19,20). Because IRFs are transcription factors, and their biological activity depends on genes they induce; characterization of downstream gene products should allow identification of critical regulators of growth suppression.We have previously shown that IFN- suppresses the growth of ovarian tumor xenografts in nude mice (21) and that IFN- induces apoptosis in these cells. To identify death genes we used an antisense technical knockout approach (22). In this approach, death regulatory genes are identified by their ability, when expressed in antisense orientation, to confer resistance to death inducers. Using this technique we have identified several genes, regulators of interferon-induced death (RIDs), that enhance IFN--activated death. In this study we have characterized one of t...