Human leukocyte interferon produced by E. coli is biologically active

  • Nature. 1980 Oct 2;287(5781):411-6. doi: 10.1038/287411a0.
D V Goeddel ,  E Yelverton ,  A Ullrich ,  H L Heyneker ,  G Miozzari ,  W Holmes ,  P H Seeburg ,  T Dull ,  L May ,  N Stebbing ,  R Crea ,  S Maeda ,  R McCandliss ,  A Sloma ,  J M Tabor ,  M Gross ,  P C Familletti ,  S Pestka
PMID: 6159538 DOI: 10.1038/287411a0
Abstract

A human leukocyte interferon cDNA was enzymatically synthesized, inserted into the vector pBR322, and cloned in Escherichia coli. The DNA sequence codes for a 23-amino acid signal peptide followed by an interferon polypeptide of 165 Amino acids. An expression plasmid was constructed which permits the synthesis in E. coli of 2.5 x 10(8) units of interferon per litre of culture. This LeIF protected squirrel monkeys from lethal encephalomyocarditis virus Infection.