The UL16 gene of human cytomegalovirus encodes a glycoprotein that is dispensable for growth in vitro.
The UL16 gene of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes a predicted translation product with features characteristic of glycoproteins (signal and anchor sequences and eight potential N-linked glycosylation sites). Antisera were raised against the UL16 gene product expressed in Escherichia coli as a beta-galactosidase fusion protein. The antisera detected a 50-kDa glycoprotein in HCMV-infected cells that was absent from purified virions. The UL16 glycoprotein was synthesized at early times after infection and accumulated to the highest levels at late times after infection. A recombinant HCMV in which UL16 coding sequences were interrupted by a lacZ expression cassette was constructed by insertional mutagenesis. Analysis of the phenotype of the recombinant virus indicated that the UL16 gene product is nonessential for virus infectivity and growth in tissue culture.
Kaye
J
J
Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Browne
H
H
Stoffel
M
M
Minson
T
T
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D002450:Cell Communication; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000382:microbiology; D005814:Genes, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D010641:Phenotype; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014771:Virion / Q000737:chemistry; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins