Expression of human Interferon genes using the recA promoter of Escherichia coli

Interferon Bi and three a-interferon genes were cloned on Eco RI fragnents isolated from a human genomic library into the Eco RI site of a plasmid containing the recA promoter of E. coli. Expression of interferon activity from cells carrying these plasmTd3 was nalidixic acid inducible. The a-interferon genes were expressed only when in the same transcriptional orientation as the recA promoter while the Bi interferon gene was expressed in either orientation. Interferon activity was also inducibly expressed from the recA promoter in cells containing a plasmid carrying a fusion of the recA gene with the Bi interferon gene. This interferon activity was thirty-fold* less sensitive to neutralization by polyclonal antibodies than authentic interferon, implying that the change near the amino terminus affects either antibody recognition or specific activity or both