Synthesis of proteins in Escherichia coli immunoreactive with sera from individuals infected with human T-cell leukemia virus type I.
The env-pX IV fused gene of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) was inserted into lac promoter-directed expression vectors for production of viral proteins in bacteria. Resulting recombinant plasmids, pK13 and pK15, directed synthesis of fused proteins of 59 kDa (Env-p40x) and 100 kDa (Gag-Env-p40x), respectively. Western blot analysis showed that these proteins were reactive with sera of patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and retained multiple antigenic determinants of viral proteins. In combination with recombinant Gag protein [S. Itamura, K. Shigesada, M. Imai, N. Kobayashi, T. Hamakado, T. Harada and M. Hatanaka, Gene 38, 57-64 (1985)], these bacterially synthesized proteins may provide a useful tool for differential diagnosis of ATL by detecting serum antibodies against individual viral proteins and for analysis of viral gene functions.
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006800:Deltaretrovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins