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Il15ra interleukin 15 receptor, alpha chain [ Mus musculus (house mouse) ]

Gene ID: 16169, updated on 7-Apr-2025

Summary

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Official Symbol
Il15raprovided by MGI
Official Full Name
interleukin 15 receptor, alpha chainprovided by MGI
Primary source
MGI:MGI:104644
See related
Ensembl:ENSMUSG00000023206 AllianceGenome:MGI:104644
Gene type
protein coding
RefSeq status
VALIDATED
Organism
Mus musculus
Lineage
Eukaryota; Metazoa; Chordata; Craniata; Vertebrata; Euteleostomi; Mammalia; Eutheria; Euarchontoglires; Glires; Rodentia; Myomorpha; Muroidea; Muridae; Murinae; Mus; Mus
Also known as
IL-15RA
Summary
Predicted to enable interleukin-15 receptor activity and protein kinase binding activity. Acts upstream of or within positive regulation of natural killer cell differentiation. Located in cytoplasmic vesicle. Is expressed in central nervous system; olfactory epithelium; and retina. Orthologous to human IL15RA (interleukin 15 receptor subunit alpha). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2025]
Expression
Broad expression in mammary gland adult (RPKM 8.1), liver E18 (RPKM 7.6) and 23 other tissues See more
Orthologs
human all
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Genomic context

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See Il15ra in Genome Data Viewer
Location:
2 A1; 2 8.97 cM
Exon count:
11
Annotation release Status Assembly Chr Location
RS_2024_02 current GRCm39 (GCF_000001635.27) 2 NC_000068.8 (11709992..11739129)
108.20200622 previous assembly GRCm38.p6 (GCF_000001635.26) 2 NC_000068.7 (11705172..11733985)

Chromosome 2 - NC_000068.8Genomic Context describing neighboring genes Neighboring gene STARR-positive B cell enhancer ABC_E9504 Neighboring gene STARR-positive B cell enhancer ABC_E5884 Neighboring gene STARR-positive B cell enhancer ABC_E5885 Neighboring gene CapStarr-seq enhancer MGSCv37_chr2:11577075-11577258 Neighboring gene interleukin 2 receptor, alpha chain Neighboring gene STARR-seq mESC enhancer starr_03676 Neighboring gene predicted gene, 39760 Neighboring gene STARR-seq mESC enhancer starr_03677 Neighboring gene predicted gene, 39759 Neighboring gene predicted gene, 46731 Neighboring gene F-box DNA helicase 1 Neighboring gene STARR-positive B cell enhancer ABC_E804 Neighboring gene ankyrin repeat domain 16

Genomic regions, transcripts, and products

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Go to nucleotide: Graphics FASTA GenBank

Expression

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  • Project title: Mouse ENCODE transcriptome data
  • Description: RNA profiling data sets generated by the Mouse ENCODE project.
  • BioProject: PRJNA66167
  • Publication: PMID 25409824
  • Analysis date: n/a

Bibliography

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Related articles in PubMed

  1. Alpha-galactosylceramide promotes killing of Listeria monocytogenes within the macrophage phagosome through invariant NKT-cell activation. Emoto M, et al. Infect Immun, 2010 Jun. PMID 20351146, Free PMC Article
  2. IL-15Rα of radiation-resistant cells is necessary and sufficient for thymic invariant NKT cell survival and functional maturation. Chang CL, et al. J Immunol, 2011 Aug 1. PMID 21709149
  3. Effector function-deficient memory CD8+ T cells clonally expand in the liver and give rise to peripheral memory CD8+ T cells. Su YC, et al. J Immunol, 2010 Dec 15. PMID 21078905
  4. Potential protective role of IL15Rα during inflammation. Pan W, et al. J Mol Neurosci, 2011 Mar. PMID 20981579, Free PMC Article
  5. IL15RA is required for osteoblast function and bone mineralization. Loro E, et al. Bone, 2017 Oct. PMID 28602725, Free PMC Article

See all (162) citations in PubMed

GeneRIFs: Gene References Into Functions

What's a GeneRIF?
  1. Profibrogenic role of IL-15 through IL-15 receptor alpha-mediated trans-presentation in the carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis model.
    Title: Profibrogenic role of IL-15 through IL-15 receptor alpha-mediated trans-presentation in the carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis model.
  2. Metabolic responses in the cortex and hippocampus induced by Il-15ralpha mutation.
    Title: Metabolic responses in the cortex and hippocampus induced by Il-15rα mutation.
  3. IL-15 Prevents Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Collagen Synthesis: A New Pathway in Chronic Kidney Disease?
    Title: IL-15 Prevents Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Collagen Synthesis: A New Pathway in Chronic Kidney Disease?
  4. Thymic Epithelial Cell-Derived IL-15 and IL-15 Receptor alpha Chain Foster Local Environment for Type 1 Innate Like T Cell Development.
    Title: Thymic Epithelial Cell-Derived IL-15 and IL-15 Receptor α Chain Foster Local Environment for Type 1 Innate Like T Cell Development.
  5. IL-15/IL-15Ralpha Heterodimeric Complex as Cancer Immunotherapy in Murine Breast Cancer Models.
    Title: IL-15/IL-15Rα Heterodimeric Complex as Cancer Immunotherapy in Murine Breast Cancer Models.
  6. Our proof-of-concept preclinical studies demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the adipocyte-specific IL-15/IL-15Ralpha complex vector as a novel cancer immune gene therapy.
    Title: Adipocytes: A Novel Target for IL-15/IL-15Rα Cancer Gene Therapy.
  7. The higher cristae density in Il15ra (-/-) mitochondria was associated with higher OPA1 and cardiolipin levels. Overall, these data extend our understanding of the role of IL15RA signaling in muscle oxidative metabolism and adaptation to exercise.
    Title: Mitochondrial ultrastructural adaptations in fast muscles of mice lacking IL15RA.
  8. IL-15 is a particularly important regulator of natural killer development, differentiation, homeostasis, and activation.
    Title: Lung Dendritic Cells Drive Natural Killer Cytotoxicity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease via IL-15Rα.
  9. data reveal a critical function of Shp-2 as a molecular nexus bridging acute IL-15 signaling with downstream metabolic burst and NK cell expansion.
    Title: Shp-2 is critical for ERK and metabolic engagement downstream of IL-15 receptor in NK cells.
  10. these data support that IL15RA plays a cell-autonomous role in osteoblast function and bone mineralization
    Title: IL15RA is required for osteoblast function and bone mineralization.
Submit: New GeneRIF Correction See all GeneRIFs (61)

Variation

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Alleles

Alleles of this type are documented at Mouse Genome Informatics  (MGI)
  • Endonuclease-mediated (5) 
  • Targeted (6)  1 citation

Pathways from PubChem

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General gene information

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Markers

Homology

Gene Ontology Provided by MGI

Function Evidence Code Pubs
enables interleukin-15 receptor activity IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
enables interleukin-15 receptor activity ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
enables interleukin-15 receptor activity ISS
Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity
more info
  
enables protein kinase binding IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
enables protein kinase binding ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
Process Evidence Code Pubs
involved_in cell surface receptor signaling pathway via JAK-STAT ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
involved_in interleukin-15-mediated signaling pathway IBA
Inferred from Biological aspect of Ancestor
more info
  
involved_in interleukin-15-mediated signaling pathway IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
involved_in interleukin-15-mediated signaling pathway ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
acts_upstream_of natural killer cell differentiation IMP
Inferred from Mutant Phenotype
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in negative regulation of neuron projection development ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
acts_upstream_of_or_within positive regulation of natural killer cell differentiation IMP
Inferred from Mutant Phenotype
more info
 PubMed 
involved_in positive regulation of phagocytosis ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
involved_in positive regulation of phagocytosis ISS
Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity
more info
  
Component Evidence Code Pubs
located_in cell surface ISO
Inferred from Sequence Orthology
more info
  
located_in cell surface ISS
Inferred from Sequence or Structural Similarity
more info
  
located_in cytoplasmic vesicle IDA
Inferred from Direct Assay
more info
 PubMed 
located_in cytosol IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in extracellular region IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in nuclear membrane IEA
Inferred from Electronic Annotation
more info
  
located_in plasma membrane TAS
Traceable Author Statement
more info
  

General protein information

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Preferred Names
interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha
Names
IL-15 receptor subunit alpha
IL-15R-alpha

NCBI Reference Sequences (RefSeq)

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RefSeqs maintained independently of Annotated Genomes

These reference sequences exist independently of genome builds. Explain

These reference sequences are curated independently of the genome annotation cycle, so their versions may not match the RefSeq versions in the current genome build. Identify version mismatches by comparing the version of the RefSeq in this section to the one reported in Genomic regions, transcripts, and products above.

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. NM_001271497.2 → NP_001258426.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 2

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001258426.1

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (3) contains an alternate 5'-most exon and uses an alternate donor splice site in another exon in the 5' UTR compared to variant 1. These differences cause translation initiation at a downstream AUG and results in an isoform (2) with a shorter N-terminus, compared to isoform 1. Variants 2, 3, 14, and 15 all encode the same isoform (2).
    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS15687.1
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q501M1
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000131473.2, ENSMUST00000138349.8

  2. NM_001271498.2 → NP_001258427.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 3

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001258427.1

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (4) differs in both UTRs and has multiple coding differences, one of which causes a frameshift, compared to variant 1. The resulting protein (isoform 3) has a shorter N-terminus and distinct C-terminus compared to isoform 1. Variants 4 and 17 both encode the same isoform (3).
    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS70980.1
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q810T6
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000132058.2, ENSMUST00000148748.8

  3. NM_001271499.2 → NP_001258428.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 4 precursor

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001258428.1

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (5) uses an alternate in-frame splice site in the coding region compared to variant 1. It encodes isoform 4 (also known as isoform 1A) which is shorter than isoform 1.
    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS70977.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    Q60819
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000110480.3, ENSMUST00000114831.9
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd00033
    Location:36 → 97
    CCP; Complement control protein (CCP) modules (aka short consensus repeats SCRs or SUSHI repeats) have been identified in several proteins of the complement system

  4. NM_001271500.2 → NP_001258429.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 5 precursor

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001258429.1

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (6) lacks an alternate in-frame exon in the coding region compared to variant 1. It encodes isoform 5 (also known as isoform 1B) which is shorter than isoform 1.
    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS70978.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    Q60819
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000110483.4, ENSMUST00000114834.10
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    smart00032
    Location:36 → 96
    CCP; Domain abundant in complement control proteins; SUSHI repeat; short complement-like repeat (SCR)

  5. NM_001271501.2 → NP_001258430.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 6 precursor

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_001258430.1

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (7) lacks two alternate in-frame exons in the coding region compared to variant 1. It encodes isoform 6 (also known as isoform 1C) which is shorter than isoform 1.
    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS70979.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    Q60819
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000110482.4, ENSMUST00000114833.10
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd00033
    Location:36 → 97
    CCP; Complement control protein (CCP) modules (aka short consensus repeats SCRs or SUSHI repeats) have been identified in several proteins of the complement system

  6. NM_001420303.1 → NP_001407232.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 7

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q80SW0

  7. NM_001420304.1 → NP_001407233.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 7

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q80SW0

  8. NM_001420305.1 → NP_001407234.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 8 precursor

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

  9. NM_001420306.1 → NP_001407235.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 9 precursor

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

  10. NM_001420307.1 → NP_001407236.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 10 precursor

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

  11. NM_001420308.1 → NP_001407237.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 11 precursor

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

  12. NM_001420310.1 → NP_001407239.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 2

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q501M1

  13. NM_001420311.1 → NP_001407240.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 2

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q501M1
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000132731.3, ENSMUST00000135341.8

  14. NM_001420315.1 → NP_001407244.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 12

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

  15. NM_001420317.1 → NP_001407246.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 3

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q810T6

  16. NM_001420318.1 → NP_001407247.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 7

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q80SW0

  17. NM_001420319.1 → NP_001407248.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 13

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

  18. NM_001420321.1 → NP_001407250.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 13

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

  19. NM_008358.3 → NP_032384.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 1 precursor

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_032384.1

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (1) encodes the longest isoform (1).
    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS15686.1
    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    A2AP35, A2AP36, A2AP37, Q60819, Q80Z90, Q80Z91, Q80Z92, Q8R5E4
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000077878.6, ENSMUST00000078834.12
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd00033
    Location:36 → 97
    CCP; Complement control protein (CCP) modules (aka short consensus repeats SCRs or SUSHI repeats) have been identified in several proteins of the complement system

  20. NM_133836.3 → NP_598597.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform 2

    See identical proteins and their annotated locations for NP_598597.1

    Status: VALIDATED

    Description
    Transcript Variant: This variant (2) contains an alternate 5'-most exon in the 5' UTR compared to variant 1. This difference causes translation initiation at a downstream AUG and results in an isoform (2) with a shorter N-terminus, compared to isoform 1. Variants 2, 3, 14, and 15 all encode the same isoform (2).
    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794
    Consensus CDS
    CCDS15687.1
    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q501M1
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000126364.2, ENSMUST00000128156.9

RNA

  1. NR_185161.1 RNA Sequence

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

  2. NR_185162.1 RNA Sequence

    Status: VALIDATED

    Source sequence(s)
    AL831794

RefSeqs of Annotated Genomes: GCF_000001635.27-RS_2024_02

The following sections contain reference sequences that belong to a specific genome build. Explain

Reference GRCm39 C57BL/6J

Genomic

  1. NC_000068.8 Reference GRCm39 C57BL/6J

    Range
    11709992..11739129
    Download
    GenBank, FASTA, Sequence Viewer (Graphics)

mRNA and Protein(s)

  1. XM_030247643.2 → XP_030103503.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform X6

  2. XM_030247644.2 → XP_030103504.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform X7

    UniProtKB/TrEMBL
    Q501M1

  3. XM_017315695.3 → XP_017171184.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform X5

    UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot
    Q60819
    Related
    ENSMUSP00000110481.3, ENSMUST00000114832.3
    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd00033
    Location:36 → 97
    CCP; Complement control protein (CCP) modules (aka short consensus repeats SCRs or SUSHI repeats) have been identified in several proteins of the complement system

  4. XM_006497359.4 → XP_006497422.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform X2

    Conserved Domains (1) summary
    cd00033
    Location:36 → 97
    CCP; Complement control protein (CCP) modules (aka short consensus repeats SCRs or SUSHI repeats) have been identified in several proteins of the complement system

  5. XM_006497360.4 → XP_006497423.1  interleukin-15 receptor subunit alpha isoform X3

RNA

  1. XR_003950824.2 RNA Sequence

  2. XR_865926.4 RNA Sequence

  3. XR_004938395.1 RNA Sequence

  4. XR_865924.4 RNA Sequence

  5. XR_865925.3 RNA Sequence

Suppressed Reference Sequence(s)

The following Reference Sequences have been suppressed. Explain

  1. NR_073191.1: Suppressed sequence

    Description
    NR_073191.1: This RefSeq was removed because it is now thought that this transcript does encode a protein.

  2. NR_073192.1: Suppressed sequence

    Description
    NR_073192.1: This RefSeq was removed because it is now thought that this transcript does encode a protein.
Nucleotide Protein Strain
Heading Accession and Version
Protein Accession Links
GenPept Link UniProtKB Link
Q60819.1 GenPept UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot:Q60819

Gene LinkOut

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