Human genomic library screened with 17-base oligonucleotide probes yields a novel interferon gene.

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Abstract
A method is presented that has permitted a human genomic library to be screened for low-copy genes using 17-base synthetic oligonucleotides as probes. Parallel screening with 2 different 17-base probes permitted the unambiguous identification of clones containing interferon-.alpha. (IFN-.alpha.) genes. The isolated human IFN-.alpha. genes were sequenced, and one appears to be IFN-.alpha.L; the other is one not previously described, which we have designated IFN-.alpha.WA. The IFN-.alpha.WA sequence differs from those of IFN-.alpha. genes A-L at .apprxeq. 10% of the positions and is most similar to IFN-.alpha.C, -.alpha.F, and -.alpha.H. IFN-.alpha.WA was found to encode amino acids that differ from those conserved at each of 5 positions in all previously reported IFN-.alpha. species. The IFN-.alpha.WA gene codes for an active interferon, which was expressed in Escherichia coli using an M13-lacZ fusion as an expression vector. About 5 .times. 106 U of IFN-.alpha.WA were obtained per liter of bacterial culture. The described screening procedure using short probes should permit the isolation of genes for which sequence information is available from animal or plant genomic libraries.