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A 15-kDa interferon-induced protein is derived by COOH-terminal processing of a 17-kDa precursor

E Knight1, D Fahey, B Cordova

  • 1Central Research and Development Department, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware 19898.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|April 5, 1988
PubMed

Insights

A precursor protein is processed into a smaller, stable 15-kDa interferon-induced protein by removing specific amino acids. This processing is crucial for the final protein

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Interferon-induced proteins play critical roles in the immune response.
  • Understanding protein synthesis and processing is fundamental to molecular biology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the synthesis pathway of a specific interferon-induced 15-kDa protein.
  • To identify the precursor molecule and the processing steps involved.

Main Methods:

  • In vivo labeling of proteins using [35S]methionine.
  • In vitro translation of messenger RNA (mRNA).
  • Analysis of protein molecular weight and amino acid composition.

Main Results:

  • Identified a 17-kDa precursor protein for the 15-kDa interferon-induced protein.
  • Determined that the 15-kDa protein results from the removal of 8 amino acids from the COOH terminus and 1 methionine from the NH2 terminus of the precursor.
  • Demonstrated the precursor's existence via short-term in vivo labeling and in vitro mRNA translation.

Conclusions:

  • The 15-kDa interferon-induced protein is generated through specific post-translational modification of a larger precursor.
  • The processing involves precise cleavage at both the amino and carboxyl termini.
  • This processing is essential for generating the functional 15-kDa protein.

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