Human beta interferon gene localization and expression in somatic cell hybrids.

The human fibroblast interferon gene beta 1 was mapped to human chromosome 9. Sequence homology with a beta 1 cDNA clone was detected in both genomic DNA and induced mRNA of human/mouse or human/hamster somatic cell hybrids containing human chromosome 9, but not in lines lacking this chromosome or those retaining a complex translocation involving chromosomes 9 and 11. Interferon mRNA that did not share sequence homology with the beta 1 cDNA clone was detected in lines containing human chromosomes 2 and 5 but lacking chromosome 9, suggesting the presence of other unlinked interferon sequences in the human genome.