title: A structural DNA binding protein of African swine fever virus with similarity to bacterial histone-like proteins.
abstract: Here we describe an African swine fever virus (ASFV) protein encoded by the open reading frame 5-AR that shares structural and functional similarities with the family of bacterial histone-like proteins which include histone-like DNA binding proteins, integration host factor, and Bacillus phage SPO1 transcription factor, TF1. The ASFV 5-AR gene was cloned by PCR and expressed in E. coli. Monospecific antiserum prepared to the 5-AR bacterial expression product specifically immunoprecipitated a protein of approximately 11.6 kDa from ASFV infected swine macrophages at late times post infection. Additionally, the 5-AR expression product was strongly recognized by ASFV convalescent pig serum, indicating its antigenicity during natural infection. Cloned p11.6 bound both double and single stranded DNA-cellulose columns. Consistent with a DNA binding function, immunoelectronmicroscopy localized p11.6 to the virion nucleoid, To our knowledge, p11.6 is the first bacterial histone-like DNA-binding protein found in an animal virus or eukaryotic cell system.
authors.affiliation: ARS, USDA, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Greenport, New York 11944-0848, U.S.A.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Borca
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Irusta
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Kutish
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carillo
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Afonso
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Burrage
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Neilan
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Rock
mesh_terms: D000358:African Swine Fever Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017103:Bacillus Phages / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006657:Histones