Functional analysis of the herpes simplex virus type 2 strain HG52 RL1 gene: the intron plays no role in virulence

Ravi, V., Kennedy, P. G. and MacLean, A. R. (1998) Functional analysis of the herpes simplex virus type 2 strain HG52 RL1 gene: the intron plays no role in virulence. Journal of General Virology, 79(7), pp. 1613-1617.

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Publisher's URL: http://vir.sgmjournals.org/content/79/7/1613.abstract

Abstract

Sequence analysis predicts that herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) strain HG52 contains an open reading frame, RL1, encoding a polypeptide equivalent to ICP34.5 of HSV-1. Similarly to HSV-1, deletion of the region spanning RL1 abolishes the virulence of HSV-2 strain HG52 and its ability to grow in stationary 3T6 cells. In contrast to HSV-1, the HSV-2 strain HG52 RL1 gene is predicted to contain a 154 bp intron. Previously, we have demonstrated that this intron is spliced from RL1 poly(A)+ mRNA at the predicted splice donor/ acceptor sites. To determine if the intron affects the function of ICP34.5 of HSV-2 strain HG52, we have constructed a virus, 2624, in which the RL1 intron is deleted: 2624 retains wild-type growth both in vivo and in 3T6 cells, indicating that the presence of an intron does not affect the function of RL1 in HSV-2 strain HG52. 2624 has wild-type growth kinetics in BHK21/C13 cells.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Kennedy, Professor Peter and MacLean, Dr Alasdair
Authors: Ravi, V., Kennedy, P. G., and MacLean, A. R.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Journal of General Virology
Publisher:Society for General Microbiology
ISSN:0022-1317
ISSN (Online):1465-2099

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