Varicella-zoster virus gene 66 transcription and translation din latently infected human ganglia

Cohrs, R.J., Gilden, D.H., Kinchington, P.R., Grinfeld, E. and Kennedy, P.G.E. (2003) Varicella-zoster virus gene 66 transcription and translation din latently infected human ganglia. Journal of Virology, 77(12), pp. 6660-6665. (doi: 10.1128/JVI.77.12.6660-6665.2003)

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Abstract

Latent infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is characterized by restricted virus gene expression and the absence of virus production. Of the approximately 70 predicted VZV genes, only five (genes 4, 21, 29, 62, and 63) have been shown by multiple techniques to be transcribed during latency. IE62, the protein product of VZV gene 62, is the major immediate-early (IE) virus-encoded transactivator of viral gene transcription and plays a pivotal role in transactivating viral genes during lytic infection. The protein kinase (66-pk) encoded by VZV gene 66 phosphorylates IE62, resulting in cytoplasmic accumulation of IE62 that mitigates nuclear IE62-induced gene activation. Analysis of latently infected human trigeminal ganglia for 66-pk expression by reverse transcriptase-dependent nested PCR, including DNA sequence analysis, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry, revealed VZV open reading frame 66 to be a previously unrecognized latently expressed virus gene and suggests that prevention of IE62 import to the nucleus by VZV 66-pk phosphorylation is one possible mechanism by which VZV latency is maintained.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Kennedy, Professor Peter
Authors: Cohrs, R.J., Gilden, D.H., Kinchington, P.R., Grinfeld, E., and Kennedy, P.G.E.
Subjects:Q Science > QR Microbiology
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Journal of Virology
Journal Abbr.:J. Virol.
ISSN:0022-538X
ISSN (Online):1098-5514

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