Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026

Rescue of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus from cDNA
Published on: October 11, 2013
[Synthetic proteins with antiviral properties of alpha-interferons]
R V Chertkova1, Z Kh Abdullaev, D A Dolgikh
1Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, GSP Moscow, 117997 Russia. rita@nmr.ru
Abstract:
Consensus sequence 30-36 LKDRHDF of human alpha-interferons is inserted into the C- and N-terminal sequences of the artificial protein albeferon using genetic engineering methods in order to obtain artificial proteins with antiviral activity. Albeferon, obtained by Dolgikh et al. (Protein Eng., 1996, vol. 9, pp. 195-201), already contains the IFN-alpha 2 130-137 fragment and possesses antiproliferative activity comparable with that of IFN-alpha 2. According to CD spectroscopy, both proteins have regular secondary structures similar to that of the precursor protein. They exhibit antiviral activities, and the activity of one of them is comparable with that of IFN-alpha 2. At the same time, their cytotoxic properties are displayed only at relatively high concentrations, which substantially exceed the minimal antiviral concentrations.
Related Concept Videos
RNA Interference
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Subviral Agents
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

