Abstract
A series of modified human interferon-β (IFN-β) genes was produced by sodium bisulfite treatment of the IFN-β gene cloned in M13. A library of mutated sequences was generated from which subgenomic fragments containing one or a small number of coding alterations were isolated and substituted into the IFN-β gene in an E. coli expression vector. A number of modified genes and their expression products were evaluated. In several instances levels of expression and biological activity profiles are altered compared to the parental gene product. A number of key amino acids can be identified, whose substitutions have marked effects on biological activity of IFN-β.
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