Produced by macrophages, IFN-alpha have antiviral activities. Interferon stimulates the production of two enzymes: a protein kinase and an oligoadenylate synthetase. Glycosylated. Belongs to the alpha/beta interferon family. Was named interferon alpha-E (embryonic) based on peptide sequencing (PubMed:9244179). The differences found may be sequencing erros and have not been confirmed by other studies.