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Heterogeneity of poly(I) x poly(C)-induced human fibroblast interferon mRNA species
Three classes of human interferons (IFNs) have been defined on the basis of their immunological properties: the 'Le' or 'alpha' IFN, mainly derived from leukocyte or lymphoblastoid cells; the 'F' or 'beta' IFN, mainly derived from fibroblast cultures; and the 'T', 'immune' or 'gamma' IFN, mainly derived from mitogen- or antigen-stimulated lymphoid cells. Whereas several individual species of Le IFN have been purified to homogeneity, it is generally considered that F IFN represents a single protein. Thus current efforts to clone human fibroblast IFN mRNA sequences are based on the observation that F IFN mRNA sediments in sucrose gradients as a single RNA species of size corresponding to 12-14 S (refs 7-10). We show here, using gel electrohporesis of mRNA, that two populations of translationally active human fibroblast IFN mRNA molecules exist--an abundant '14 S' species and a scarce '11 S' species. Microinjection of either species of mRNA into Xenopus oocytes leads to the synthesis of biologically active F-type human IFN. These data agree with and complement recent RNA hybridization studies of Weissenbach et al.
Three classes of human interferons (IFNs) have been defined on the basis of their immunological properties: the 'Le' or 'alpha' IFN, mainly derived from leukocyte or lymphoblastoid cells; the 'F' or 'beta' IFN, mainly derived from fibroblast cultures; and the 'T', 'immune' or 'gamma' IFN, mainly derived from mitogen- or antigen-stimulated lymphoid cells. Whereas several individual species of Le IFN have been purified to homogeneity, it is generally considered that F IFN represents a single protein. Thus current efforts to clone human fibroblast IFN mRNA sequences are based on the observation that F IFN mRNA sediments in sucrose gradients as a single RNA species of size corresponding to 12-14 S (refs 7-10). We show here, using gel electrohporesis of mRNA, that two populations of translationally active human fibroblast IFN mRNA molecules exist--an abundant '14 S' species and a scarce '11 S' species. Microinjection of either species of mRNA into Xenopus oocytes leads to the synthesis of biologically active F-type human IFN. These data agree with and complement recent RNA hybridization studies of Weissenbach et al.