title: Structural and immunological characterization of human cytomegalovirus gp55-116 (gB) expressed in insect cells.
abstract: The gene encoding the major envelope glycoprotein complex, gp55-116 (gB), of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) was expressed at high levels in insect cells utilizing a recombinant baculovirus. The mature intracellular form of the insect-derived gp55-116 was a protein of Mr 150K which contained approximately 50K of N-linked oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharide linkages were almost exclusively endoglycosidase H-sensitive. The 150K protein was processed, presumably by proteolytic cleavage, to yield at least one of the previously defined cleavage products of the gp55-116. This processing step was significantly less efficient in insect cells than the analogous step in mammalian cells. Finally, the insect-derived gp55-116 was highly immunogenic in experimental animals and readily recognized by antibodies contained within HCMV-immune human serum, suggesting that this recombinant protein warrants further study as a potential HCMV subunit vaccine candidate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, School of Medicine, Birmingham 35294.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Vugler
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Britt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002999:Clone Cells; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D009036:Moths; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D051381:Rats; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C040495:glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus