title: Immunological characterization of an early cytomegalovirus single-strand DNA-binding protein with similarities to the HSV major DNA-binding protein.
abstract: Monospecific polyclonal antisera were prepared against the 129-kDa, early, single-strand DNA-binding protein (DB129) of strain Colburn cytomegalovirus (CMV), and used to study its distribution in infected cells and its relatedness to a proposed human CMV (HCMV) counterpart (DB140). Indirect immunofluorescence of fixed, infected human fibroblasts showed DB129 to be localized within the intranuclear inclusions characteristic of replicating CMV. Treatment of infected cells with 50 to 100 micrograms phosphonoformic acid per milliliter resulted in the overproduction of DB129 and its accumulation within nuclei, both inside the inclusions and in surrounding areas of the nucleoplasm, whereas treatment with 500 micrograms/ml prevented inclusion formation, and DB129 was localized at discrete points throughout the infected-cell nuclei. The sera cross-reacted an estimated 10% with HCMV DB140 in an indirect immunoassay, and their use in immunofluorescence localized DB140 to the nuclear inclusions of HCMV-infected cells. Their immunological cross-reactivity, as well as their similar biochemical properties and intracellular distribution, support the likelihood that DB129 and DB140 are the protein products of homologous genes. The relationship of these proteins to the herpes simplex major DNA-binding protein is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Anders
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D003429:Cross Reactions; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D017245:Foscarnet; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D017245:Foscarnet; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid