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Published on: March 24, 2015
Organization, structure and expression of murine interferon alpha genes
Nucleic Acids Research
|February 11, 1985
Summary
Researchers identified clustered murine interferon-alpha (Mu IFN-alpha) genes, revealing genetic similarities to human interferon genes. These genes encode proteins with antiviral properties, showing varied expression levels in cells.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Immunology
- Genetics
Background:
- Interferons (IFNs) are crucial cytokines in the innate immune response.
- Understanding the genetic organization and expression of IFN genes is vital for immune research.
- Previous studies indicated gene clustering for human IFN-alpha, but murine counterparts were less characterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize murine interferon-alpha (Mu IFN-alpha) genes.
- To investigate the genomic organization and sequence homology of Mu IFN-alpha genes.
- To assess the functional expression and antiviral properties of Mu IFN-alpha proteins.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of recombinant phages containing Mu IFN-alpha genes from a genomic library using a human IFN-alpha probe.
- Determination of nucleotide sequences for five Mu IFN-alpha genes.
- Transient expression of three Mu IFN-alpha genes in COS cells.
- Analysis of Mu IFN-alpha and Mu IFN-beta gene expression in virus-induced mouse L cells using nuclease S1 experiments.
Main Results:
- Isolation of phages containing multiple Mu IFN-alpha genes, indicating gene clustering similar to human IFN genes.
- Sequencing revealed five distinct yet highly homologous Mu IFN-alpha genes, with four possessing a putative glycosylation site.
- Expressed Mu IFN-alpha proteins demonstrated antiviral activity.
- Analysis of virus-induced mouse L cells showed the presence of mRNAs for all five Mu IFN-alpha genes and the Mu IFN-beta gene, with significant variations in their abundance.
Conclusions:
- Mu IFN-alpha genes are clustered in the murine genome.
- The identified Mu IFN-alpha genes are diverse but homologous, producing functional proteins with antiviral properties.
- Differential expression of Mu IFN-alpha and Mu IFN-beta genes occurs in response to viral induction.
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