Abstract
Analysis of human beta interferon (IFN) mRNA preparations obtained from poly(I) . poly (C)-induced human diploid fibroblasts (FS-4) and from several similarly induced human-mouse somatic cell hybrids by electrophoresis through agarose-CH3HgOH tube gels led to the detection of at least five translationally active human IFN-beta mRNA species. The results obtained are consistent with the existence of IFN-beta genes on different human chromosomes. Marked cell-dependent variability in the expression of these IFN mRNA species was observed.