Recombinant Human IFN-omega

Description: In the human genome, the IFN-omega gene family consists of seven members located on chromosome 9. However, only one of these genes is functional giving rise to the IFN-omega protein, whereas the others are non-functional pseudogenes. The IFN-omega gene is not expressed in unstimulated cells. Viral infection results in expression of the gene giving rise to the N-glycosylated protein consisting of 172 or 174 amino acids and an apparent molecular mass of about 25kDa. A single carbohydrate group consists mainly of biantennary complex oligosaccharides with variable amounts of N-acetyl neuraminic acid. In quantitative terms, IFN-omega is a major component of human leukocyte IFN; with a contribution to its total antiviral activity estimated to be in the range of 10 -15 %.

Citations: Oftedal,Bergithe E.; B›e Wolff,Anette S.; Bratland,Eirik; K„mpe,Olle; Perheentupa,Jaakko; Myhre,Anne Grethe; Meager,Anthony; Purushothaman,Radhika; Ten,Svetlana; Husebye,Eystein S.. Radioimmunoassay for autoantibodies against interferon omega; its use in the diagnosis of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I. Clinical Immunology 2008;129:163-169. (Link)