Skip to main content
Journal of Virology logoLink to Journal of Virology
. 1991 Jan;65(1):373–381. doi: 10.1128/jvi.65.1.373-381.1991

Characterization of a human cytomegalovirus 1.6-kilobase late mRNA and identification of its putative protein product.

R S Lahijani 1, E W Otteson 1, J D Adlish 1, S C St Jeor 1
PMCID: PMC240527  PMID: 1845897

Abstract

In a previous study (J. Martinez, R. S. Lahijani, and S. C. St. Jeor, J. Virol. 63:233-241, 1989), we identified a late, unspliced 1.6-kb mRNA that maps to the HindIII R fragment of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) AD169. In the present study, the direction of transcription of this mRNA was determined by Northern (RNA) analysis with strand-specific probes. Primer extension was used to precisely map the 5' end of the mRNA. An open reading frame (ORF) designated ORF 2-1, located 176 nucleotides downstream from the cap site of the 1.6-kb mRNA, was identified. A synthetic peptide was made representing a hydrophilic region in the amino terminus of ORF 2-1. Immunoprecipitation and Western immunoblot analysis of infected HEL cell lysates, using affinity-purified antibody to the peptide (anti-P2-1), detected a viral protein with an apparent molecular mass of 58 kDa late in infection. Further support for the presence of this protein in infected-cell lysates was obtained by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of viral antigens in intact infected HEL cells was assessed by immunofluorescence. General cytoplasmic staining was observed at 62 h postinfection, in contrast to a localized staining observed in the nuclear and perinuclear region at 96 h postinfection.

Full text

PDF
373

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Boshart M., Weber F., Jahn G., Dorsch-Häsler K., Fleckenstein B., Schaffner W. A very strong enhancer is located upstream of an immediate early gene of human cytomegalovirus. Cell. 1985 Jun;41(2):521–530. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(85)80025-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Chang C. P., Malone C. L., Stinski M. F. A human cytomegalovirus early gene has three inducible promoters that are regulated differentially at various times after infection. J Virol. 1989 Jan;63(1):281–290. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.1.281-290.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Chang C. P., Vesole D. H., Nelson J., Oldstone M. B., Stinski M. F. Identification and expression of a human cytomegalovirus early glycoprotein. J Virol. 1989 Aug;63(8):3330–3337. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.8.3330-3337.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cherrington J. M., Mocarski E. S. Human cytomegalovirus ie1 transactivates the alpha promoter-enhancer via an 18-base-pair repeat element. J Virol. 1989 Mar;63(3):1435–1440. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.3.1435-1440.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. DeMarchi J. M., Schmidt C. A., Kaplan A. S. Patterns of transcription of human cytomegalovirus in permissively infected cells. J Virol. 1980 Aug;35(2):277–286. doi: 10.1128/jvi.35.2.277-286.1980. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Demarchi J. M. Human cytomegalovirus DNA: restriction enzyme cleavage maps and map locations for immediate-early, early, and late RNAs. Virology. 1981 Oct 15;114(1):23–38. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(81)90249-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Depto A. S., Stenberg R. M. Regulated expression of the human cytomegalovirus pp65 gene: octamer sequence in the promoter is required for activation by viral gene products. J Virol. 1989 Mar;63(3):1232–1238. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.3.1232-1238.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fox T. D. Natural variation in the genetic code. Annu Rev Genet. 1987;21:67–91. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ge.21.120187.000435. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Geballe A. P., Leach F. S., Mocarski E. S. Regulation of cytomegalovirus late gene expression: gamma genes are controlled by posttranscriptional events. J Virol. 1986 Mar;57(3):864–874. doi: 10.1128/jvi.57.3.864-874.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Geballe A. P., Mocarski E. S. Translational control of cytomegalovirus gene expression is mediated by upstream AUG codons. J Virol. 1988 Sep;62(9):3334–3340. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.9.3334-3340.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Geballe A. P., Spaete R. R., Mocarski E. S. A cis-acting element within the 5' leader of a cytomegalovirus beta transcript determines kinetic class. Cell. 1986 Sep 12;46(6):865–872. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(86)90068-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Goins W. F., Stinski M. F. Expression of a human cytomegalovirus late gene is posttranscriptionally regulated by a 3'-end-processing event occurring exclusively late after infection. Mol Cell Biol. 1986 Dec;6(12):4202–4213. doi: 10.1128/mcb.6.12.4202. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Griffiths P. D., Grundy J. E. Molecular biology and immunology of cytomegalovirus. Biochem J. 1987 Jan 15;241(2):313–324. doi: 10.1042/bj2410313. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hu N., Messing J. The making of strand-specific M13 probes. Gene. 1982 Mar;17(3):271–277. doi: 10.1016/0378-1119(82)90143-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Klucher K. M., Rabert D. K., Spector D. H. Sequences in the human cytomegalovirus 2.7-kilobase RNA promoter which mediate its regulation as an early gene. J Virol. 1989 Dec;63(12):5334–5343. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.12.5334-5343.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kozak M. Compilation and analysis of sequences upstream from the translational start site in eukaryotic mRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res. 1984 Jan 25;12(2):857–872. doi: 10.1093/nar/12.2.857. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kyte J., Doolittle R. F. A simple method for displaying the hydropathic character of a protein. J Mol Biol. 1982 May 5;157(1):105–132. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(82)90515-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Leach F. S., Mocarski E. S. Regulation of cytomegalovirus late-gene expression: differential use of three start sites in the transcriptional activation of ICP36 gene expression. J Virol. 1989 Apr;63(4):1783–1791. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.4.1783-1791.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Lehner R., Meyer H., Mach M. Identification and characterization of a human cytomegalovirus gene coding for a membrane protein that is conserved among human herpesviruses. J Virol. 1989 Sep;63(9):3792–3800. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.9.3792-3800.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Mach M., Stamminger T., Jahn G. Human cytomegalovirus: recent aspects from molecular biology. J Gen Virol. 1989 Dec;70(Pt 12):3117–3146. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-70-12-3117. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Martinez J., Lahijani R. S., St Jeor S. C. Analysis of a region of the human cytomegalovirus (AD169) genome coding for a 25-kilodalton virion protein. J Virol. 1989 Jan;63(1):233–241. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.1.233-241.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Martinez J., St Jeor S. C. Molecular cloning and analysis of three cDNA clones homologous to human cytomegalovirus RNAs present during late infection. J Virol. 1986 Nov;60(2):531–538. doi: 10.1128/jvi.60.2.531-538.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. McDonough S. H., Spector D. H. Transcription in human fibroblasts permissively infected by human cytomegalovirus strain AD169. Virology. 1983 Feb;125(1):31–46. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(83)90061-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. McDonough S. H., Staprans S. I., Spector D. H. Analysis of the major transcripts encoded by the long repeat of human cytomegalovirus strain AD169. J Virol. 1985 Mar;53(3):711–718. doi: 10.1128/jvi.53.3.711-718.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Meyer H., Bankier A. T., Landini M. P., Brown C. M., Barrell B. G., Rüger B., Mach M. Identification and procaryotic expression of the gene coding for the highly immunogenic 28-kilodalton structural phosphoprotein (pp28) of human cytomegalovirus. J Virol. 1988 Jul;62(7):2243–2250. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.7.2243-2250.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Re M. C., Landini M. P., Coppolecchia P., Furlini G., La Placa M. A 28000 molecular weight human cytomegalovirus structural polypeptide studied by means of a specific monoclonal antibody. J Gen Virol. 1985 Nov;66(Pt 11):2507–2511. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-66-11-2507. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Sanger F., Nicklen S., Coulson A. R. DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Dec;74(12):5463–5467. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.12.5463. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Staprans S. I., Rabert D. K., Spector D. H. Identification of sequence requirements and trans-acting functions necessary for regulated expression of a human cytomegalovirus early gene. J Virol. 1988 Sep;62(9):3463–3473. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.9.3463-3473.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Stenberg R. M., Depto A. S., Fortney J., Nelson J. A. Regulated expression of early and late RNAs and proteins from the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene region. J Virol. 1989 Jun;63(6):2699–2708. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.6.2699-2708.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Stenberg R. M., Stinski M. F. Autoregulation of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early gene. J Virol. 1985 Dec;56(3):676–682. doi: 10.1128/jvi.56.3.676-682.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Stenberg R. M., Thomsen D. R., Stinski M. F. Structural analysis of the major immediate early gene of human cytomegalovirus. J Virol. 1984 Jan;49(1):190–199. doi: 10.1128/jvi.49.1.190-199.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Stinski M. F., Roehr T. J. Activation of the major immediate early gene of human cytomegalovirus by cis-acting elements in the promoter-regulatory sequence and by virus-specific trans-acting components. J Virol. 1985 Aug;55(2):431–441. doi: 10.1128/jvi.55.2.431-441.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Stinski M. F., Thomsen D. R., Stenberg R. M., Goldstein L. C. Organization and expression of the immediate early genes of human cytomegalovirus. J Virol. 1983 Apr;46(1):1–14. doi: 10.1128/jvi.46.1.1-14.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Towbin H., Staehelin T., Gordon J. Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from polyacrylamide gels to nitrocellulose sheets: procedure and some applications. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979 Sep;76(9):4350–4354. doi: 10.1073/pnas.76.9.4350. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Wathen M. W., Stinski M. F. Temporal patterns of human cytomegalovirus transcription: mapping the viral RNAs synthesized at immediate early, early, and late times after infection. J Virol. 1982 Feb;41(2):462–477. doi: 10.1128/jvi.41.2.462-477.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Wathen M. W., Thomsen D. R., Stinski M. F. Temporal regulation of human cytomegalovirus transcription at immediate early and early times after infection. J Virol. 1981 May;38(2):446–459. doi: 10.1128/jvi.38.2.446-459.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Weston K. An enhancer element in the short unique region of human cytomegalovirus regulates the production of a group of abundant immediate early transcripts. Virology. 1988 Feb;162(2):406–416. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(88)90481-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Wilkinson G. W., Akrigg A., Greenaway P. J. Transcription of the immediate early genes of human cytomegalovirus strain AD169. Virus Res. 1984;1(2):101–106. doi: 10.1016/0168-1702(84)90067-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Yoshinaka Y., Katoh I., Copeland T. D., Oroszlan S. Murine leukemia virus protease is encoded by the gag-pol gene and is synthesized through suppression of an amber termination codon. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1985 Mar;82(6):1618–1622. doi: 10.1073/pnas.82.6.1618. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Zinoni F., Birkmann A., Stadtman T. C., Böck A. Nucleotide sequence and expression of the selenocysteine-containing polypeptide of formate dehydrogenase (formate-hydrogen-lyase-linked) from Escherichia coli. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Jul;83(13):4650–4654. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.13.4650. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Virology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES