[Expression in Escherichia coli cells of mutant human interferon alpha2]

cDNA library was obtained from mRNA isolated from human leukocytes induced by Newcastle disease virus. Clones containing cDNA for alpha 2-interferons were identified by colony hybridization with two synthetic hexadecanucleotides. One of the positive clones contained a NH2-terminal part of cDNA of human interferon identical to cDNA for IFN-alpha 2. The only difference between these two clones was the Ser-8 leads to Asn-8 substitution in deduced sequenced of mature interferons. This mutant interferon, named alpha 2, was expressed in E. coli and its properties were compared with those of interferon alpha 2.