Purified Interferons: Physical Properties and Species Specificity

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Abstract
The antiviral activity of highly purified preparations of chick and mouse interferons has marked species specificity. This species specificity is not explained by a demonstrable difference in adsorption rates. There is no difference in charge between the molecules as measured by combined zone electrophoresis or ion-exchange chromatography. The interferons are distinguishable by thermal inactivation studies and by precise chromatography on G-100 Sephadex columns. With the latter method, interferons produced by the same cell species (i) in vivo or in vitro, or (ii) in response to different viruses, have been shown to be identical. The same virus stimulates physically distinguishable molecules in the two different cell species. These findings indicate that interferon is a virus-induced product of the host genome.