title: Identification of the equine herpesvirus type 1 glycoprotein 17/18 as a homologue of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D.
abstract: The DNA sequence of the equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) gD gene homologue has been determined for the strain Ab1 and compared with previously published sequences. A portion of the gene has been located to a region of the genome which also encodes homologues of the herpes simplex virus type 1 genes for gE and gI and is known to encode an epitope of the virion protein gp17/18. Analysis of the EHV-1 strain Kentucky A (KyA) by DNA hybridization showed the presence of a gD gene homologue and established the absence of genes for gI and gE. Western blot analysis, however, showed that KyA virus particles contain gp17/18, thus indicating that this protein is encoded by the gD gene homologue. The KyA gp17/18 was found to be smaller than that detected in other strains and this is accounted for by a frameshift mutation in the KyA sequence relative to Ab1. The mutation in the KyA strain results in an altered C-terminal sequence and could explain the apparent structural differences suggested by the reactivities with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). We have also expressed part of the Ab1 gD gene as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase in Escherichia coli and shown that this reacts with the MAb 5H6 originally used to map gp17/18. These experiments establish that gp17/18 is encoded by the gD gene homologue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Leeds, U.K.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Elton
authors.forename: I W
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Halliburton
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Killington
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bonass
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C488988:glycoprotein D, Equid herpesvirus 1; C040570:glycoprotein D-herpes simplex virus type 2