Isolation and bacterial expression of a murine alpha leukocyte interferon gene

A murine alpha interferon gene (MuIFN-alpha A) was isolated from a murine genomic DNA library in phage lambda. The gene was cloned and its sequence determined. It was expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the trp promoter/operator which resulted in antiviral activity on mouse L-cells. MuIFN-alpha A exhibits 60% homology to HuIFN-alpha A at the amino acid level.