title: Heterogeneity of poly(I) x poly(C)-induced human fibroblast interferon mRNA species.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000235:genetics*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009865:Oocytes; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007372:Interferons; D011070:Poly I-C