A nonstructural polypeptide encoded by immediate-early transcription unit 1 of murine cytomegalovirus is recognized by cytolytic T lymphocytes.
We have constructed target cells by cotransfection of the MHC gene Ld and fragments of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) DNA coding for nonstructural immediate-early (IE) proteins. Transfectants were tested by using CTL clone IE1 with specificity for an IE epitope presented in association with Ld. Data show that clone IE1 recognizes a product of the ie1 transcription unit of MCMV, and that its specificity is shared by approximately 25% of polyclonal IE-specific CTL. The results provide the first definite evidence that expression of a herpes virus IE gene encoding a regulatory protein gives rise to antigen expression detectable by specific CTL.
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D010455:Peptides; D014764:Viral Proteins