Expression of amplified human beta interferon genes using heavy metal induction in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

An expression cassette consisting of the human beta-interferon (beta-IFN) cDNA fused to the human metallothionein (MeT)IIA promoter has been linked to a selectable mouse dihydrofolate reductase gene (dhfr) and used to transform dhfr-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Transformants resistant to increasing concentrations of methotrexate (Mtx) were isolated and found to secrete beta-IFN either constitutively or upon induction with cadmium (up to 325 000 units beta-IFN/10(6) cells/24 h). Molecular analysis demonstrates a large increase in beta-IFN-specific DNA sequences and beta-IFN mRNA levels in amplified cell lines, with initiation of transcription occurring at the authentic start point for the MeT promoter.