4 research outputs found
Characterization of a unique gene of opMNPV and analysis of regulatory motifs involved in basal activity and ie2 trans-activation
Baculovirus early genes are transcribed by host cell transcription factors and serve
to regulate the infectious cycle via a cascade effect, and may also play a significant role
in viral host range. Opep-2 is one of two unique early genes in the IE1 gene region of
Orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (OpMNPV). Opep-2 is
transcribed from 1-36 hours post infection as three transcripts, with a single consensus
baculovirus early gene initiation motif and three termination sites, corresponding to
transcripts of 1.1, 0.98 and 0.88 kb. Opep-2 is regulated by a promoter region that has
several recognizable motifs, including a pair of previously unidentified 13 base direct
repeats that serve as regulatory motifs, as well as GATA and CACGTG motifs. Transient
expression assays in two insect cell lines - Ld652Y and Sf9 - have indicated different
minimal promoter requirements for activation by host cell nuclear factors and for trans-activation
by the viral transcription factor IE2. This is the first study to investigate the
sequence requirements for IE2 trans-activation. No specific sequences are absolutely
required for trans-activation by either cell line. Deletion viruses lacking the opep-2 ORF
have indicated that opep-2 is not required for infection in tissue culture, and its absence
has no effect on virus production or infectivity in either tissue culture or in insects
susceptible to the wild type virus. The deletion of opep-2 from the genome has resulted
in a change in plaque morphology, and transmission electron microscopy studies have
indicated that cells infected with the deletion virus do not lyse as quickly as WT infected
cells.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat
Characterization of a Unique OpMNPV-Specific Early Gene Not Required for Viral Infection in Tissue Culture
Abstractopep-2is anOrgyia pseudotsugatamulticapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (OpMNPV) early gene in theie1–ie2gene region for which there is no homolog in either the archetype virus,Autographa californicaMNPV, orBombyx moriNPV.opep-2is transcribed immediately upon infection as three mRNAs which initiate from a early gene motif (TATA-N27-CAGT). The expression of multiple transcripts at very early times postinfection has only been previously described for the baculovirus early geneie1,which produces spliced mRNAs. However, distinct fromie1,the multiple mRNAs ofopep-2are due to multiple termination sites and not splicing. Western blot analysis of steady-state levels of OPEP-2 showed that in OpMNPV-infected Ld652Y cells maximum levels are obtained at 8–12 hr postinfection (p.i.) prior to DNA replication. By 48 hr p.i. OPEP-2 is shut off and is undetectable. To aid in elucidating the function of this OpMNPV-specific gene anopep-2deletion mutant was generated and was compared to wild-type virus to determine if its absence affects viral growth in Ld652Y tissue culture cells