MOlecular cloning of human alpha and beta interferon genes from Namalwa cells

A cDNA library constructed from poly(A)+RNA of Sendai virus-induced human lymphoblastoid (Namalwa) cells was screened with a synthetic oligonucleotide specific for interferon genes. Recombinant plasmids containing sequences derived from alpha and beta interferon (IFN) mRNAs were obtained. The clones were characterized by RNA transfer hybridization, translation of hybrid-isolated RNA, and DNA sequencing. One alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) clone obtained is a variant differing from previously described clones in the location of its polyadenylation site.