A highly conserved baculovirus gene p48 (ac103) is essential for BV production and ODV envelopment

Journal Article · Mon Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Virology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2008.06.015· OSTI ID:21141034

Meijin, Yuan; Wenbi, Wu; Chao, Liu; Yanjie, Wang; Zhaoyang, Hu ^[1]; Yi, Pang ^[1]

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1. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275 (China)

Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) p48 (ac103) is a highly conserved baculovirus gene of unknown function. In the present study, we generated a knockout of the p48 gene in an AcMNPV bacmid and investigated the role of P48 in baculovirus life cycle. The p48-null Bacmid vAc{sup P48-KO-PH-GFP} was unable to propagate in cell culture, while a 'repair' Bacmid vAc{sup P48-REP-PH-GFP} was able to replicate in a manner similar to a wild-type Bacmid vAc{sup PH-GFP}. Titration assays and Western blotting confirmed that vAc{sup P48-KO-PH-GFP} was unable to produce budded viruses (BVs). qPCR analysis showed that p48 deletion did not affect viral DNA replication. Electron microscopy indicated that P48 was required for nucleocapsid envelopment to form occlusion-derived viruses (ODVs) and their subsequent occlusion. Confocal analysis showed that P48 prominently condensed in the centre of the nucleus. Our results demonstrate that P48 plays an essential role in BV production and ODV envelopment in the AcMNPV life cycle.

• OSTI ID: 21141034
• Journal Information: Virology, Journal Name: Virology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 379; ISSN VIRLAX; ISSN 0042-6822
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
CELL CULTURES
DNA REPLICATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
GENES
KNOCK-OUT REACTIONS
LIFE CYCLE
TITRATION
VIRUSES