title: Molecular cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of equine type I interferons.
abstract: Using human interferon-alpha 2 (IFN-alpha 2) and IFN-beta DNA to probe an equine genomic library we isolated recombinant phages containing genes for equine interferon-alpha (EqIFN-alpha), interferon-beta (EqIFN-beta), and interferon-omega (EqIFN-omega). Sequence and hybridization analyses of these genes reveal that the equine genome contains gene families of each of these three type I interferon classes. The mature proteins of EqIFN-alpha are 71-77% homologous to human IFN-alpha polypeptides, and, when expressed in E. coli, possess antiviral activity on both equine and human cells. By contrast, EqIFN-beta is only 59% homologous to its human counterpart and shows activity only on equine cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005796:Genes; D006736:Horses / Q000235:genetics*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014762:Viral Interference
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes