title: Characterization of the type I interferon locus and identification of novel genes.
abstract: The human type I interferon (IFN) genes are clustered on human chromosome 9p21 and the mouse genes are located in the region of conserved synteny on mouse chromosome 4. We have identified two novel mouse Ifna genes (Ifna12, Ifna13) and Ifnl2 (IFN-like 2, a homologue of Limitin/IFN-like 1). Another type I IFN gene was designated Ifne1. Mouse Ifne1 was expressed in ovaries and uterus but not in tissues of hematopoietic origin. IFN-epsilon1 has general structural characteristics of a type I IFN. These studies represent the first detailed annotation of the mouse type I IFN locus, and the products of these novel genes may have important functions in reproduction and host defense.
authors.affiliation: Center for Functional Genomics and Human Disease, Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Owczarek
authors.forename: Lars S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Jermiin
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ejdebäck
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Hertzog
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011544:Pseudogenes / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism; D014780:Viruses / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; D012333:RNA, Messenger