Autographa Californica Multicapsid Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Research Articles

Comparative transient expression assay analysis of hycu-hr6- and IE1-dependent regulation of baculovirus gp64 early promoters in three insect cell lines

We previously demonstrated that the Hyphantria cunea multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HycuMNPV) gp64 gene ( hycu-gp64) is uniquely localized on the viral genome with a large homologous region of 1582 bp, hycu-hr6, immediately upstream of the hycu-gp64 gene. In the present study, we compared the regulation of gp64 early promoters from HycuMNPV, Autographa californica multicapsid NPV (AcMNPV) and Bombyx mori NPV (BmNPV) by cis-acting hycu-hr6 and trans-acting IE1s in three cell lines ( Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9, Bombyx mori BM-N and Spilosoma imparilis SpIm). A transient expression assay with plasmids harboring a reporter luciferase gene demonstrated that the gp64 early promoters are positively regulated by hycu-hr6, independent of virus and cell types. In contrast, gp64 early promoters were regulated positively or negatively by trans-acting IE1s, in a cell- and virus-type dependent manner, indicating that cellular factors, as well as viral factors, are responsible for IE1-dependent regulation of gp64 early promoters. However, hycu-gp64 early promoter activity was consistently suppressed by HycuMNPV IE1 (Hycu-IE1), irrespective of the cell lines used. Analysis of the hycu-gp64 early promoter region revealed two novel sequence elements that were involved in Hycu-IE1-dependent negative regulation of the hycu-gp64 early promoter. These two novel regulatory sequence elements could compensate for each other but could not be substituted with AcMNPV IE1 binding motif (Ac-IBM). These results suggest that IE1 regulates gp64 early promoters to produce the proper amount of GP64 protein, depending upon NPV-insect cell systems.

Characterization of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus orf74, a novel gene involved in virulence of virus

orf74 of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a homologue of uncharacterized orf91 of Autographa californica multicapsid NPV, predicted to encode a protein of 17.3 kDa. RT-PCR showed that the transcription of orf74 was initiated at 12 h post-infection stage. Expression assay indicated that ORF74 localized in the nucleus of infected BmN cells. To study the function of ORF74, an orf74-knockout virus was constructed using bacmid technology. Analysis of the production of budded virions and occlusion bodies, the formation of nucleocapsids, and the level of viral DNA revealed no significant difference among the mutant, the control, and the orf74-repaired virus. Interestingly, bioassay showed that the median lethal time of the orf74-knockout virus was 14.7 h longer than the control virus, but the virus yield was similar to that of control virus. Thus, our data indicated that ORF74 is most likely implicated in the virulence of BmNPV, and is not essential for virus replication.

Abortive replication of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus in Sf9 and High Five cells: Defective nuclear transport of the virions

Despite close genetic relationship, Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) and Autographa californica multicapsid NPV (AcMNPV) display a distinct host range property. Here, BmNPV replication was examined in Sf9 and High Five cells that were nonproductive for BmNPV infection but supported high titers of AcMNPV replication. Recombinant BmNPV, vBm/gfp/lac, containing bm-ie1 promoter-driven egfp showed that few Sf9 and High Five cells infected with vBm/gfp/lac expressed EGFP, while large proportion of EGFP-expressing cells was observed when transfected with vBm/gfp/lac DNA. Immunocytochemical analysis showed that BmNPV was not imported into the nucleus of these two cell lines, while recombinant BmNPV, vBmΔ64/ac-gp64 possessing AcMNPV gp64 was imported into the nucleus, yielding progeny virions in High Five cells, but not Sf9 cells. These results indicate that the defective nuclear import of infected virions due to insufficient BmNPV GP64 function is involved in the restricted BmNPV replication in Sf9 and High Five cells.

Functional analysis of FP25K of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus

The fp25k gene of Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HearNPV) was studied. HearNPV fp25k gene transcription was found starting from about 18 h post-infection, and protein could be detected from the same time with antiserum against FP25K. To study the function of HearNPV fp25k, a recombinant HearNPV (HaBacWD11) with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene replacing the fp25k was constructed using HaBacHZ8, a bacmid of HearNPV that lacks the polyhedrin gene. Growth curve analysis showed that HaBacWD11 produced higher titres of budded viruses (BVs) than its wild-type counterpart HaBacHZ8-GFP. Electron microscopic analysis indicated that at the late stage of infection, the number of intranuclear enveloped nucleocapsids in HaBacWD11-infected cells was much less than that of HaBacHZ8-GFP. A rescue recombinant virus HaBacWD14 was constructed by reintroducing fp25k gene into HaBacWD11. The growth curve and electron microscopic analysis of the rescued recombinant confirmed that the increase of BV yield and the decrease of the virion production in infected cells were the result of fp25k deletion. The expression of membrane fusion protein (Ha133) and ODV-E66 were studied using the FP25K mutants HaBacWD11 and HaBacHZ8-GFP. Unlike FP25K mutants in Autographa californica multicapsid NPV (AcMNPV), which caused an increase in the expression of membrane fusion protein GP64 and a decrease of ODV-E66, no obvious changes at the expression level of Ha133 and ODV-E66 were observed in HearNPV FP25K mutant.

Expression profiling of baculovirus genes in permissive and nonpermissive cell lines

The baculoviruses Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) and Autographa californica multicapsid NPV (AcMNPV) are highly homologous at the genomic level, but they have essentially nonoverlapping host ranges. In order to characterize baculovirus replication in permissive and nonpermissive cell lines, the expression profiles of baculovirus-specific genes (at 2, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 or 72h post-infection) were examined in BmN (BmNPV-permissive) or Sf-9 (AcMNPV-permissive) cells that were inoculated with BmNPV or AcMNPV. Surprisingly, nearly all of the 154 genes of AcMNPV appeared to be expressed in both Sf-9 and BmN cells although the peak expression levels of these genes were delayed by roughly 12h in the nonpermissive BmN cells. In addition, the expression levels of the very late AcMNPV polyhedrin and p10 genes were dramatically reduced in BmN cells, which presumably led to the inability of AcMNPV to form polyhedral inclusion bodies in BmN cells. Nearly all of the 136 genes of BmNPV appeared to be expressed in BmN cells, however, BmNPV gene expression was dramatically reduced in Sf-9 cells inoculated with BmNPV. Experiments in which BmNPV DNAs were transfected to Sf-9 cells suggested that this dramatic reduction in gene expression was not the result of poor attachment, penetration or uncoating of the BmNPV virion into Sf-9 cells. In conclusion, we established a system to monitor global gene expression patterns during baculovirus infection in permissive and nonpermissive cell lines. This system was used to identify global trends in the transcription of baculovirus genes during productive and nonproductive infection.

The sequence of the Helicoverpa armigera single nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus genome.

The nucleotide sequence of the Helicoverpa armigera single-nucleocapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) DNA genome was determined and analysed. The circular genome encompasses 131,403 bp, has a G+C content of 39.1 mol% and contains five homologous regions with a unique pattern of repeats. Computer-assisted analysis revealed 135 putative ORFs of 150 nt or larger; 100 ORFs have homologues in Autographa californica multicapsid NPV (AcMNPV) and a further 15 ORFs have homologues in other baculoviruses such as Lymantria dispar MNPV (LdMNPV), Spodoptera exigua MNPV (SeMNPV) and Xestia c-nigrum granulovirus (XcGV). Twenty ORFs are unique to HaSNPV without homologues in GenBank. Among the six previously sequenced baculoviruses, AcMNPV, Bombyx mori NPV (BmNPV), Orgyia pseudotsugata MNPV (OpMNPV), SeMNPV, LdMNPV and XcGV, 65 ORFs are conserved and hence are considered as core baculovirus genes. The mean overall amino acid identity of HaSNPV ORFs was the highest with SeMNPV and LdMNPV homologues. Other than three 'baculovirus repeat ORFs' (bro) and two 'inhibitor of apoptosis' (iap) genes, no duplicated ORFs were found. A putative ORF showing similarity to poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolases (parg) was newly identified. The HaSNPV genome lacks a homologue of the major budded virus (BV) glycoprotein gene, gp64, of AcMNPV, BmNPV and OpMNPV. Instead, a homologue of SeMNPV ORF8, encoding the major BV envelope protein, has been identified. GeneParityPlot analysis suggests that HaSNPV, SeMNPV and LdMNPV (group II) have structural genomic features in common and are distinct from the group I NPVs and from the granuloviruses. Cluster alignment between group I and group II baculoviruses suggests that they have a common ancestor.

DNA-dependent transregulation by IE1 of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus: IE1 domains required for transactivation and DNA binding.

IE1 is the principal early transregulator of Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). The 582-residue protein stimulates viral transcription and binds as a dimer to 28-bp palindromic repeats (28-mers) comprising the AcMNPV homologous region (hr) transcription enhancers. To define IE1 domains responsible for hr-dependent transactivation, we first constructed a series of IE1 fusions to the DNA binding domain of the yeast GAL4 transactivator. In transfection assays, GAL4-IE1 fusions stimulated transcription from a TATA-containing AcMNPV promoter only upon cis linkage to GAL4 DNA binding sites. IE1 N-terminal residues 8 to 118 were sufficient for GAL4-binding-site-dependent transactivation. To identify IE1 residues required for hr interaction, we tested a series of IE1 mutations for 28-mer binding by using electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Deletion of IE1 residues other than the N-terminal transactivation domain eliminated 28-mer binding. Of 14 insertion mutations, only IE1(I425) and IE1(I553) failed to bind the 28-mer either as homodimers or as heterodimers with functional IE1. In contrast to insertion IE1(I425), IE1(I553) also failed to compete with wild-type IE1 for DNA binding and suggested a defect in oligomerization. Consistent with loss of oligomerization, substitutions within a hydrophobic repeat (residues 543 to 568) at the IE1 C terminus abolished 28-mer binding and demonstrated that this helix-loop-helix-like domain is required for DNA interaction. These data confirm that IE1 contains separable domains for transactivation and oligomerization-dependent DNA binding. Furthermore, they support a model wherein hr-mediated transactivation by IE1 involves sequence-specific DNA binding that contributes to transcriptional stimulation by interaction with components of the basal transcription complex.

Identification of the early actin-rearrangement-inducing factor gene, arif-1, from Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

In response to Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) infection, a sequential rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton occurs. Previous studies suggest that the penetration of nucleocapsids induces early actin cables followed by further changes of the actin cytoskeleton which depend on early viral gene expression. By transfection of a plasmid library into Trichoplusia ni TN-368 cells, we have identified an early viral gene, designated arif-1, that is able to induce actin rearrangement. The determination of the nucleotide sequence of arif-1 revealed one open reading frame potentially encoding a gene product of 45 kDa with no significant sequence homology to known proteins. After expression of arif-1 in transfected cells, the induced actin rearrangement, visualized by fluorescence microscopy, was comparable to the changes of the actin cytoskeleton at 3 to 7 h postinfection. These changes are based on early viral gene expression during the infection cycle. A causal link between arif-1 expression and actin rearrangement in infected cells is suggested by infection studies with the AcMNPV/Spodoptera frugiperda MNPV hybrid, which carries a deletion in the arif-1 gene. In transfection experiments the presence of the known viral transactivator IE1 was required in addition to ARIF-1 to induce actin rearrangement. IE1 was needed for promoter activation of the arif-1 gene, since arif-1 expression under the control of the early pe38 promoter was sufficient to induce actin rearrangement in transfected cells. Primer extension analyses showed that the arif-1 gene is transcribed only during the early phase of AcMNPV infection in T. ni TN-368 cells. There was a delay of about 1 h compared to ie1 transcription, which is in agreement with the assumption that IE1 transactivates the arif-1 promoter during infection.

Late Promoter Selection in the Baculovirusgp64 Envelope Fusion ProteinGene

The upstream promoter region of theAutographa californicamulticapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV)gp64gene contains five copies of TAAG, the conserved sequence found at the transcriptional initiation sites of almost all baculovirus late genes. In AcMNPV-infected Sf9 cells, late transcription initiation is detected from only two upstream TAAG sites and not from three downstream TAAG sites. To examine several models for preferential TAAG site utilization, we constructed a series of recombinant AcMNPV baculoviruses that contain promoter region sequences from thegp64gene fused to achloramphenicol acetyl transferasereporter gene. Promoter–reporter constructs were inserted in the polyhedrin locus. To test a scanning model in which TAAG sites are sequentially selected according to their location in the region, we generated recombinant viruses in which the highly transcribed sites were inactivated by point mutations. Transcription from the mutant promoter constructs was compared qualitatively and quantitatively to transcription from the wild-typegp64promoter. Inactivation of the upstream TAAG sites did not result in increased transcription from the downstream TAAG sites, suggesting that immediate context, rather than position, determines promoter utilization. To test this hypothesis, we made a series of minimal promoter constructs containing decreasing quantities of the sequences immediately flanking one of the activegp64TAAG sites. Reporter constructs containing agp64TAAG site and ≥12 bp of flanking sequence on both sides were transcribed at near wild-type levels. Constructs with less flanking sequence (9 or 6 bp of flanking sequence) were accurately transcribed, but at substantially lower levels, and transcription was not detected from constructs containing only 3 bp of flanking sequence. These results suggest that nucleotides immediately flanking the TAAG site (4–6 bp) are necessary for basal promoter activity while additional flanking sequences (≥12 bp) are required for late promoter activation and regulation. To further examine late promoter selection, we constructed recombinant AcMNPV baculoviruses that contain heterologous late promoters from thegp64gene of the related virusOrgyia pseudotsugataMNPV (OpMNPV). TAAG sites that serve as functional late promoters in OpMNPV were found to mediate transcription initiation at only basal levels in the context of the AcMNPV genome, suggesting that late promoter activation may be virus specific within the familyBaculoviridae.

The GP64 envelope fusion protein is an essential baculovirus protein required for cell-to-cell transmission of infection.

To demonstrate the essential nature of the baculovirus GP64 envelope fusion protein (GP64 EFP) and to further examine the role of this protein in infection, we inactivated the gp64 efp gene of Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) and examined the biological properties of this virus in vivo. To provide GP64 EFP during construction of the recombinant GP64 EFP-null AcMNPV baculovirus, we first generated a stably transfected insect cell line (SfpOP64-6) that constitutively expressed the GP64 EFP of Orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV). The AcMNPV gp64 efp gene was inactivated by inserting the bacterial lacZ gene in frame after codon 131 of the gp64 efp gene. The inactivated gp64 gene was cloned into the AcMNPV viral genome by replacement of the wild-type gp64 efp locus. When propagated in the stably transfected insect cells (Sf9OP64-6 cells), budded virions produced by the recombinant AcMNPV GP64 EFP-null virus (vAc64z) contained OpMNPV GP64 EFP supplied by the Sf9OP64-6 cells. Virions propagated in Sf9OP64-6 cells were capable of infecting wild-type Sf9 cells, and cells infected by vAc64z exhibited a blue phenotype in the presence of X-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside). Using cytochemical staining to detect vAc64z infected cells, we demonstrated that this GP64 EFP-null virus is defective in cell-to-cell propagation in cell culture. Although defective in cell-to-cell propagation, vAc64z produces occlusion bodies and infectious occlusion-derived virions within the nucleus. Occlusion bodies collected from cells infected by vAc64z were infectious to midgut epithelial cells of Trichoplusia ni larvae. However, in contrast to infection by a control virus, infection by vAc64z did not proceed into the hemocoel. Analysis of vAc64z occlusion bodies in a standard neonate droplet feeding assay showed no virus-induced mortality, indicating that occluded virions produced from vAc64z could not initiate a productive (lethal) infection in neonate larvae. Thus, GP64 EFP is an essential virion structural protein that is required for propagation of the budded virus from cell to cell and for systemic infection of the host insect.

Baculovirus infection of Spodoptera exigua larvae: lacZ expression driven by promoters of early genes pe38 and me53 in larval tissue.

To follow the progression of infection of Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) within tissues of its larval host, we have constructed AcMNPV recombinants carrying lacZ reporter genes under the control of the early virus promoters pe38 and me53, in addition to the authentic genes. The early promoter-lacZ gene cassettes were located upstream of the very late polyhedrin gene. In infected insect cell lines, pe38 transcription is initiated at an early promoter, while me53 transcripts start from both early and late sites. Transcriptional mapping of the duplicated me53 and pe38 promoters driving lacZ expression showed that they initiated at the same start sites as in the authentic genes. Expression of lacZ by these recombinants was compared to a recombinant driving beta-glucuronidase expression from the very late p10 promoter and lacZ expression from the constitutive heat shock protein 70 promoter of Drosophila melanogaster. After infection of Spodoptera exigua larvae with the different recombinants, we followed reporter gene expression and polyhedron formation in different tissues using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. LacZ expression, indicative of early viral transcriptional activity, was detected in nearly all larval tissues during the course of infection. In most tissues these early events were followed by pathophysiological changes associated with late and very late gene expression. However, p10 transcription and polyhedron formation were not observed in midgut goblet cells, Malpighian tubules and salivary glands. These results suggest that expression of early virus genes, such as me53 and pe38, is not restricted to larval tissues that are permissive for AcMNPV replication.

Baculovirus ACMNPV as well as RNA- and protein-synthesis inhibitors induce apoptosis in a continuous midgut cell line, FPMI-CF-203, of Choristonuera fumiferana (Lepitoptera: tortricidae)

Apoptosis is an active cellular self-destruction regulated by expression or repression of certain genes. Apoptosis can be caused by a variety of both external and internal stimuli. Whether these different stimuli that can cause apoptosis converge into a final pathway that leads to self-destruction is not known. This paper compares apoptosis caused by a baculovirus, an RNA-synthesis inhibitor and a protein-synthesis inhibitor.Inoculation of IPLB-SF-21 (SF-21) and FPMI-CF-203 (CF-203, Fig. 1, ) cells with Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) and Choristoneura fumiferana multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (CfMNPV), respectively, results in successful infection as visualized by formation of occlusion bodies (OBs). However, inoculation of CF-203 cells with AcMNPV, or SF-21 cells with CFMNPV, is unsuccessful and no OBs are seen. Inoculation of CF-203 cells with AcMNPV results in premature lysis of cells beginning at 12 hr post-inoculation (pi) and most of the cells are lysed by 48 hr pi.

Passage of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus through the Midgut Epithelium of Spodoptera exigua Larvae

A special recombinant of Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) was designed to study the early histopathological events of baculovirus infection in Spodoptera exigua larvae. This recombinant contained a Drosophila melanogaster heat shock 70 promoter driving an Escherichia coli β-galactosidase (Lac-Z) reporter gene to monitor the presence of early viral gene expression and a second reporter gene, the E. coli β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene, under control of the very late AcNPV p10 promoter to monitor viral replication. In S. exigua larvae, permissive Spodoptera spp. cultured cells, and nonpermissive D. melanogaster cultured cells early viral gene expression was indicated by the appearance of Lac-Z as early as 3 hr p.i. Late viral gene expression was indicated by the appearance of GUS and occurred only in the permissive cultured cells and larvae. Early and late viral gene expression could be detected simultaneously using differential enzyme histochemistry. Analysis of infected S. exigua larvae revealed that midgut columnar cells and, at a low frequency, midgut regenerative cells were the primary sites of infection. Parental nucleocapsids were apparently transported through columnar cells to underlaying regenerative cells before virus replication and progeny production. Infection of tissues beside the midgut epithelium was not detected prior to viral replication within the midgut, suggesting the, infection of the midgut is an important prelude to systemic infection.

Biosynthesis and Processing of the Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus gp64 Protein

gp64 is a major virion envelope glycoprotein of the baculovirus Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). gp64 plays an important role in AcMNPV infection, probably mediating penetration of one form of the virus into host cells through the endocytic pathway. gp64 also represents an excellent probe for studying the membrane glycoprotein processing capabilities of baculovirus-infected insect cells, which are used widely as a eucaryotic expression system. The goals of this study were to characterize gp64 biosynthesis and processing and determine how N-glycosylation and N-linked oligosaccharide processing influence the fate and function of gp64 in AcMNPV-infected insect cells. We found that gp64 was synthesized in a bipbasic fashion, with peaks at 8 and 24 hr postinfection in both the intracellular and extracellular fractions. Interestingly, the first peak preceded detectable budded virus (BV) production, suggesting that gp64 is shed from infected cells early in infection. Transcriptional regulation accounted for the bipbasic mode of gp64 protein synthesis, as transcription initiated at a consensus early motif during early times of infection, at late motif during late times of infection, and there was a leg between the peak of early and the onset of late transcription. In vitro transcription-translation assays showed that the second ATG in the AcMNPV gp64 long open reading frame is used as the translational initiation codon and that downstream sequences encode a functional signal peptide. Pulse-chase analyses, endoglycosidases, and various inhibitors were used to show that some N-linked oligosaccharides on gp64 are processed by glucosidases and α-mannosidases in AcMNPV-infected insect cells. These experiments also revealed that at least two differentially processed gp64 glycoforms are produced in these cells and that both can reach the cell surface and assemble into progeny BV. However, N-linked oligosaccharide processing was not required for gp64 cell surface expression, its assembly into infectious BV, or its fusogenic activity. This suggested that any gp64 glycoform produced during infection, regardless of its N-linked carbohydrate structure, can have essentially normal biological properties. By contrast, transport of gp64 to the cell surface, production of infectious BV, and fusogenic activity were reduced in the absence of N-glycosylation, indicating that this modification is necessary for optimal gp64 function.

Nucleotide sequence of the p74 gene of a baculovirus pathogenic to the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus

Polypeptide p74 has been found to be essential for production of virulent occlusion bodies of the baculovirus Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). Hybridization with AcMNPV-derived probes has led to the location of the p74 gene in the spruce budworm virus, Choristoneura fumiferana MNPV. Sequence data indicate that CfMNPV p74 is 73% identical to AcMNPV at the nucleotide level and 77% identical at the amino acid level. Elements of predicted secondary structure are also conserved.

Enhancement of polyhedrin nuclear localization during baculovirus infection.

Polyhedrin is the major component of the nuclear viral occlusions produced during replication of the baculovirus Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). Since viral occlusions are responsible for the horizontal transmission of AcMNPV in nature, the biosynthesis, localization, and assembly of polyhedrin are important events in the viral replication cycle. We recently defined the sequence requirements for nuclear localization and assembly of polyhedrin. In this study, we examined the localization of polyhedrin at different times of infection. The results showed that nuclear localization of polyhedrin becomes more efficient as the occlusion phase of infection progresses. Several different factors were identified that might contribute to this overall effect, including a higher rate of polyhedrin nuclear localization and a higher rate of polyhedrin biosynthesis. We also examined the biosynthesis and processing of polyhedrin in cells infected with an AcMNPV few polyhedra (FP) mutant, which produces smaller numbers of viral occlusions that contain few or no virions. Compared with wild type, the FP mutant produced polyhedrin more slowly and localized it to the nucleus less efficiently at the beginning of the occlusion phase of infection (24 h postinfection). This supported the idea that the efficiency of polyhedrin nuclear localization is tightly coupled to its rate of biosynthesis. It also revealed that expression of the viral 25K gene, which is inactivated in the FP mutant, is directly or indirectly associated with an enhancement of polyhedrin biosynthesis and nuclear localization at the beginning of the occlusion phase of infection. This enhancement effect appears to be necessary to ensure the normal assembly of viral occlusions.

Foreign gene expression by a baculovirus vector with an expanded host range.

A nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) (Baculoviridae)-based gene expression system was improved by DNA recombination. The BmN cell line established from Bombyx mori and the Sf21 cell line established from Spodoptera frugiperda are non-permissive for Autographa californica multicapsid NPV (AcMNPV) and B. mori NPV (BmNPV) replication, respectively. After cotransfection of AcMNPV DNA and BamHI-digested BmNPV DNA into Sf21 cells, progeny viruses were isolated by plaque purification on BmN cell monolayers and the host specificity of one viral isolate was analysed. The virus had a wider host range, and replicated and produced polyhedra in Sf21 cells, BmN cells and larvae of the silkworm, B. mori. DNA restriction endonuclease analysis showed that the isolate was a hybrid of AcMNPV and BmNPV. Using the AcMNPV transfer vector pAcYM1 a portion of the polyhedrin gene of the hybrid virus was replaced with the coding region of the firefly luciferase gene, producing a recombinant virus. The latter expressed firefly luciferase in both cell lines and in silkworm larvae under the control of the polyhedrin promoter.

Replication inhibition by nucleoside analogues of a recombinant Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus harboring the herpes thymidine kinase gene driven by the IE-1(0) promoter: a new way to select recombinant baculoviruses.

The expression of the thymidine-thymidylate kinase (HSV1-TK), (ATP: thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase; EC 2.7.1.21) of herpes simplex virus type 1 endows the host cell with a conditional lethal phenotype which depends on the presence of nucleoside analogues metabolized by this enzyme into toxic inhibitors of DNA replication. To generate a recombinant baculovirus that could be selected against by nucleoside analogs, the HSV1-tk coding sequence was placed under the control of the Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) immediate early promoterm IE-1(0), and this construction was introduced via homologous recombination into the polyhedrin locus of AcMNPV. Two recombinant baculoviruses harboring this gene construct at the polyhedrin locus were isolated and tested for their ability to replicate in the presence of various concentrations of the nucleoside analog 9-(1,3-Dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)guanine (Ganciclovir). Neither Sf9 lepidopteran cell viability nor replication of wild type or beta-Galactosidase-expressing recombinant AcMNPVs were affected by concentrations of Ganciclovir up to 100 microM. In contrast, replication of the recombinant AcMNPV virus harboring the HSV1-tk gene was inhibited by Ganciclovir in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition was detectable at 2 microM and complete at 100 microM. This property was exploited in model isolations aimed at purifying new recombinant viruses having lost this counter-selectable gene marker as a result of homologous recombination at the polyhedrin locus after cotransfection of the viral DNA with a replacement vector. After being propagated in the presence of Ganciclovir, the progeny of such co-transfections contained over 85% recombinant viruses, demonstrating that counter-selection of parental HSV1-tk-containing viruses by Ganciclovir constitutes a novel approach for recombinant baculovirus isolation.

Identification of spliced baculovirus RNAs expressed late in infection

Previous to this study, the Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) was known to express only one spliced RNA (spliced IE1 or IE0). We have conducted an analysis of RNA expressed during infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells with AcMNPV and have identified a set of five additional spliced RNAs expressed late in infection. A reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis was used to confirm the identification of the LS (late, spliced) RNAs. S1 nuclease and primer extension analyses were used to map the transcription initiation sites of LS RNAs. LS1 and LS2 initiated at positions −138 and −117, respectively (relative to the IE0+1 transcription start site). Both LS1 and LS2 contain an additional cistron potentially encoding a small, highly basic polypeptide. LS3 (−79), LS4 (−22), and LS5 (+51/52) RNAs encode only the predicted downstream IE0 ORF. Although several baculovirus late gene consensus transcription initiation sites (ATAAG) were identified within this region, only LS5 initiated at one of these conserved motifs. An S1 nuclease analysis was done to determine whether unspliced precursors of LS RNAs could be detected. Early in infection, a greater proportion of IE0 RNA was detected in the spliced form; however, during the late phase of infection a significantly greater amount of unspliced precursor forms of LS RNAs was observed.

Identification and characterization of the ie-1 gene of orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus

The IE-1 gene of Orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) was mapped between 95.7 and 97.1 map units on the viral genome. Sequence analysis of the OpMNPV IE-1 gene (OpIE-1) identified an open reading frame that coded for a predicted protein of 560 amino acids with a molecular weight of 64,775. Transcriptional analysis of OpMNPV-infected Lymantria dispar (LD652Y) cells identified two RNAs homologous to the OpIE-1 open reading frame that were 1.7 and 1.9 kb in size. The 1.7-kb transcript could be detected by 0 hr postinfection (hr p.i.) and the steady-state levels increased up to 48 hr p.i. The 1.9-kb message appears to be spliced and has peak expression from 4 to 6 hr p.i. but can still be detected at late times p.i.. Comparison of the OpIE-1 and Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) IE-1-predicted proteins revealed that the N-terminal region had very low sequence identity (21%) but had maintained an acidic profile, whereas the C-terminal region showed 55% amino acid identity. Transient assay analysis showed that OpIE-1 was able to trans-activate the AcMNPV delayed early reporter gene construct p39CAT in both LD652Y cells and Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. The expression of p39CAT trans-activated by OpIE-1 was also found to be enhanced by the AcMNPV hr enhancer sequences. The OpIE-1 promoter was linked to the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene and deletion analysis was used to identify regions involved in the regulation of this gene. This analysis revealed that the OpIE-1 promoter contained regions that were responsive to a transcriptional activator that was specific to Sf9 cells. In addition it was shown that OpIE-1 could trans-activate its own promoter and that for maximal expression this required sequences between −420 and −330 relative to the transcriptional start site. These data suggest that OpIE-1 is autoregulated during normal viral infection of insect cells.