Properties of non-glycosylated human interferon-beta from MG63 cells

MG63 cells induced by Sendai virus produce human interferon (IFN)-beta with a molecular weight of 22000. In the presence of tunicamycin, they produced non-glycosylated, biologically active, IFN-beta with a molecular weight of 17000. It had slightly lower heat stability (at 56 degrees C) than normal glycosylated IFN, but the sensitivity to neutralization by antisera and the cross-species activities on murine, bovine and hamster cells were unaltered, indicating dispensability of the carbohydrate moiety for these parameters. However, the IFN yields were markedly reduced by the glycosylation inhibitor, suggesting an important role of glycosylation in production by cells of IFN-beta.