The equid herpesvirus-1 gene 63 is expressed as a leaky late (gamma 1) transcript and is nonessential for replication in vitro.
The regulation of Equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) gene 63 was investigated using molecular expression studies and its role in viral growth was identified by constructing a gene 63 mutant virus. Metabolic inhibitors were used to show that EHV-1 gene 63 is expressed as a leaky-late (gamma 1) transcript. Transient transfections and subsequent chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter assays showed that gene 63 was transactivated by EHV-1 gene 64 (immediate early) protein. An EHV-1 gene 63 mutant virus, where the LacZ gene was inserted into the mutated gene 63 open reading frame, showed that gene 63 protein was not essential for efficient EHV-1 growth in tissue culture. These findings indicate that the animal alpha herpesviruses may have evolved different pathways leading to replication.
Purewal
A S
AS
Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Iqbal
J
J
Edington
N
N
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D005814:Genes, Viral; D004861:Herpesvirus 1, Equid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*