title: Characterization of the US8.5 protein of herpes simplex virus.
abstract: In a previous study a novel gene designated as US8.5 was identified in the unique short component of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) genome. Epitope tagging experiments suggested the existence of a protein encoded by this gene in HSV1 infected cells. To further analyze the US8.5 gene product and function, a rabbit polyclonal antiserum was raised against a recombinant beta-galactosidase-US8.5 fusion protein expressed in E. coli. This antiserum reacted specifically with a 19 kDa protein in HSV1(F) infected cells as shown by immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation experiments. In addition, using the same antiserum a 21 kDa protein was detected in lysates from cells infected with HSV2(G), which was most likely the HSV2 homolog of US8.5. Kinetic studies indicated that US8.5 is expressed as gamma 1 gene. In addition, the US8.5 protein was immunoprecipitated with the anti-US8.5 serum from 32P-labeled lysates of Vero cells infected with HSV1, demonstrating that the protein is phosphorylated. Immunofluorescence studies localized the US8.5 protein to the nucleoli of HSV1 infected cells.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Virology Laboratory, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Georgopoulou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kakkanas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miriagou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michaelidou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mavromara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006224:Cricetinae; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D016679:Genome, Viral; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D011817:Rabbits; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; C097988:US8.5 protein, Human herpesvirus 1; D014764:Viral Proteins