Cloning and Sequencing of the Muscovy Duck IFN1 Gene

Using primers based on entry No.X84764 from GenBank, the muscovy duck IFN1 gene (named MDIFN α) containing the nucleotide sequence of the mature protein was cloned from total RNA derived from PHA stimulated cultured lymphocyte of immunized muscovy duck by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR). The open reading frame (ORF) of DIFN1 consisted of 576 nucleotides, encoding 191 amino acids. After excising the signal peptide, mature DIFN1 consisted of 486 nucleotides, encoding 191 amino acids. The homology of MDIFN α(lacking signal peptide)nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences to No.X84764 was 97.7% and 95.7% respectively. The result showed that MDIFN α might be a new IFN subtype of duck type I interferon.