Expression inEscherichiaof chemically synthesized gene for the human immune Interferon

Abstract
A 454 base pair fragment of double stranded DNA consisting of a gene for a human Immune interferon (hIFN-γ), initiation and termination signals plus appropriate restriction endonuclease sites, was totally synthesized. The synthesis involved preparation of 62 oligodeoxyribonucleotides by rapid, solid phase procedures, and enzymatic ligation of the oligonucleotides. This synthetic gene was expressed in E.coil under the control of the lac UV5 promoter. The product has antiviral activity which was acid labile and completely neutralized by antiserum to hlFN-γ but not by antiserum to hlFN-α or hlFN–β. Molecular weight of hlFN-γ produced by E.coli was estimated to be about 32,000 and 17,000 by gel filtration and SDS–polyacrylamide gel electro–phoresis respectively.