Immunodominant structures in the aminoterminal portion of human interferon alpha 1.

The analysis of the antigenic structure of human interferon (IFN)-alpha 1 with a panel of monoclonal antibodies revealed four immunodominant regions. Three of them, recognized by 12 of 14 antibodies were mapped into the aminoterminal portion of IFN-alpha 1 around residues 31-38, 43-53 and 63-85. The region 31-85 proved important also for the antiviral and antiproliferative activity of the IFN-alpha 1 molecule. The antibody recognizing the sequence around residues (54)63-67 also inhibited the cellular binding of IFN-alpha 1 to the high-affinity receptors.