# MULTIPLE LEVELS OF REGULATION OF IFN GENE EXPRESSION

> **NIH NIH R01** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 1987 · $190,372

## Abstract

In the past years, we have cloned human Alpha and Beta interferon (IFN)
genes and used these DNAs and antisera to Alpha and Beta IFN peptides as
specific probes to study molecule mechanism involved in the regulation of
IFN genes expression.

We have shown that in human cells inducer activates transcription of IFN
genes; the difference between the rate of transcription between Alpha and
Beta IFN genes was found, however, the kinetic of induction was
coordinate.  Evidence for the regulation of IFN synthesis on the
posttranscriptional level was also found.  In cells induced with poly
rI.rC, the Beta IFN gene is transcribed in nuclei during the shut-off
period when no BetamRNA and BetaIFN synthesis can be detected in cells.  In
induced lymphoblastoid cells the amount of Beta IFN detected in the medium
was 10-fold lower than Chi IFNs.  While the relative levels of Chi and Beta
mRNA in the cells were similar; a difference in the cellular processing and
turnover between these two types of interferons was found.  The detail
analysis of Beta IFN transcription indicated that the termination may be
cell type specific.

The Beta IFN gene was also inserted behind strong viral promoters of HSV
group and the expression and regulation of these hybrid genes after
transfection inheterologous cells was studied.

In the present proposal, we plan to examine the role of cis and trans
element on the activation and regulation of Beta IFN genes.  The expression
of endogenous and exogenous genes will be examined in homologous cells of
different histological origin.  An attempt will be made to develop in vitro
assay to identify the regulatory factor involved in the activation or
switch-off of IFN genes.  We plan to analyze further the termination sites
of the primary transcripts of IFN genes, determine the sequence of the
termination site(s) and examine whether the termination is cell type or
inducer specific.  Finally, the question of the regulation of IFN synthesis
through the modulation of IFN mRNA stability will be examined and elements
essential for the specfic recognition of IFN mRNA by the degradation
systems determined.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3124849
- **Project number:** 5R01AI010944-13
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FTMTDMBR29C7
- **Principal Investigator:** Paula M Pitha-Rowe
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $190,372
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1978-04-01 → 1989-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3124849

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3124849, MULTIPLE LEVELS OF REGULATION OF IFN GENE EXPRESSION (5R01AI010944-13). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3124849. Licensed CC0.

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