Use of Monkey-Mouse Hybrid Cells for the Study of the Cellular Regulation of Interferon Production and Action

Four clones of a somatic monkey-mouse hybrid cell line were studied. One of these clones produced both mouse and monkey interferon, while the three others produced only mouse interferon. All four were, however, sensitive to both mouse and monkey (or human) interferon. The karyotype analysis of these four hybrid clones and the parental cell lines enabled us to locate the possible genetic site governing the synthesis of monkey interferon on a small subtelocentric monkey chromosome. The genetic site responsible for the synthesis of the antiviral protein is located on a different (monkey or mouse) chromosome.