Characterization of the varicella-zoster virus gene 61 protein

Stevenson, D., Colman, K.L. and Davison, A.J. (1992) Characterization of the varicella-zoster virus gene 61 protein. Journal of General Virology, 73(3), pp. 521-530. (doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-73-3-521)

Abstract

The protein predicted to be encoded by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) gene 61 exhibits limited amino acid sequence similarity to the herpes simplex virus type 1 nuclear phosphoprotein Vmw 110, which functions as a transcriptional activator. The gene 61 protein was expressed in its entirety, or as an amino- or carboxyterminal fragment in Escherichia coli and vaccinia virus recombinants, and monospecific rabbit antisera were raised against an E. coli fusion between fl-galactosidase and the majority of the gene 61 protein. Use of the antisera showed that the gene 61 protein is present in VZV-infected cell nuclei as a heterogeneous phosphoprotein of Mr 62K to 65K. Phosphorylation occurs in the amino- and, to a lesser extent, carboxy-terminal portions of the protein. The carboxy-terminal region directs transport of the protein to the nucleus, whereas the amino-terminal region, which contains a potential zinc-binding domain, is responsible for a punctate distribution. Preliminary mapping data indicated that gene 61 is transcribed as a 1.8 kb mRNA which initiates about 65 bp upstream from the translation initiation codon, at a position located appropriately with respect to potential regulatory elements.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Davison, Professor Andrew
• Authors: Stevenson, D., Colman, K.L., and Davison, A.J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Journal of General Virology
• Journal Abbr.: J. Gen. Virol.
• Publisher: Society for General Microbiology
• ISSN: 0022-1317
• ISSN (Online): 1465-2099