The tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 signal transducers TRAF2 and c-IAP1 are components of the tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 signaling complex.

The two cell surface receptors for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) interact with a number of intracellular signal transducing proteins. The association of TRADD, a 34-kDa cytoplasmic protein containing a C-terminal death domain, with aggregated TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1) through their respective death domains leads to NF-kappa B activation and programmed cell death. In contrast, TNF receptor 2 (TNF-R2) interacts with the TNF receptor associated factors 2/1 (TRAF2/TRAF1) heterocomplex, which mediates the recruitment of two cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (c-IAP1 and c-IAP2) to TNF-R2. Here we show that the TNF-R2 signal transducers TRAF2 and c-IAP1 are a part of the TNF-R1 signaling complex. The recruitment of TRAF2 and c-IAP1 to TNF-R1 is TNF-dependent, is mediated by TRADD, and is independent of TNF-R2. These data establish the physiological involvement of TRAF2 and c-IAP1 in TNF-R1 signaling and help provide a molecular explanation for both the overlapping and distinct signals generated by the two TNF receptors.