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Molecular characterization of Marek's disease herpesvirus B antigen

Journal Article · · J. Virol.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6207650

The Marek's disease herpesvirus (MDHV) B antigen (MDHV-B) was identified and molecularly characterized as a set of three glycoproteins of 100,000, 60,000, and 49,000 apparent molecular weight (gp100, gp60, and gp49, respectively) by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) after immunoprecipitation from (/sup 35/S)methionine-labeled infected cells by specific rabbit antiserum directed against MDHV-B (R..cap alpha..B), as previously determined by immunodiffusion. Further identification was accomplished by blocking this immunoprecipitation with highly purified MDHV-B. The same set of three polypeptides was also immunoprecipitated from (/sup 35/S) methionine- and /sup 14/C-labeled infected cells into two other sera shown to have anti-B activity. These data serve to clarify the molecular identification of the polypeptides found in common between MDHV and HVT by linking them to MDHV-B. Collectively, the data presented here and by others support the conclusion that all three glycoproteins now identified as gp100, gp60, and gp49 have MDHV-B determinants. Finally, detection of the same three polypeptides with well-absorbed R..cap alpha..PM, which was directed against purified infected-cell plasma membranes, suggests that at least one component of the B-antigen complex has a plasma membrane location in the infected cell. These preliminary data point to the future membrane biochemistry and membrane immunology experiments needed to understand the MDHV system, and they may explain the high level of immunogenicity of MDHV-B in the infected chicken, as shown by its immunoprecipitation with immune chicken serum.

Research Organization:
Case-Western Univ., Cleveland, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
6207650
Journal Information:
J. Virol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Virol.; (United States) Vol. 59:2; ISSN JOVIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English