This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Guarino, L A Articles by Jarvis, D L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Guarino, L A Articles by Jarvis, D L

Baculovirus phosphoprotein pp31 is associated with virogenic stroma.

Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station.

ABSTRACT

The PstI K fragment of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) encodes a protein with a molecular weight of 31,000. To define the role of this protein (pp31) in virus infection further, it was overexpressed in bacteria and used to produce polyclonal antiserum. Radioimmunoprecipitation analysis indicated that pp31 was synthesized during both the early and late phases of virus infection, consistent with previous analyses indicating that the gene was regulated by tandem early and late promoters. Metabolic labeling of cells with carrier-free phosphate indicated that pp31 was phosphorylated. Biochemical fractionation experiments showed that pp31 was localized in the nucleus and that it was more stably associated with the nucleus at later times of infection. Immunoblot analysis of subnuclear fractions indicated that pp31 was associated predominantly with the chromatin and nuclear matrix fractions. Immunofluorescence experiments confirmed that the pp31 protein was localized in the nucleus. Nuclear staining was relatively uniform early but was more centrally nuclear later in infection. Immunoelectron microscopy indicated that the pp31 protein was a component of virogenic stroma. Southwestern (DNA-protein) blot analysis demonstrated that pp31 is a DNA-binding protein. These findings suggest a possible role for pp31 in the virus life cycle.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Li, Y., Guarino, L. A. (2008). Roles of LEF-4 and PTP/BVP RNA Triphosphatases in Processing of Baculovirus Late mRNAs. J. Virol. 82: 5573-5583 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Guarino, L. A., Mistretta, T.-A., Dong, W. (2002). Baculovirus lef-12 Is Not Required for Viral Replication. J. Virol. 76: 12032-12043 [Abstract] [Full Text]