title: Identification and characterization of novel murine cytomegalovirus M112-113 (e1) gene products.
abstract: The human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL112-113 gene products play important roles in viral DNA replication and transcriptional regulation. In this report, we characterize two novel transcripts originating from the homologous M112-113 (e1) region of the murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) genome. These transcripts of 2.0 and 2.4 kb represent alternatively spliced products of the e1 gene region. Analysis of the e1 proteins demonstrates the presence of a previously unidentified 87-kDa protein that is likely encoded by the 2.4-kb transcript. All four protein products derived from the e1 gene region are expressed with early kinetics, are coordinately regulated, and localize predominantly to the nucleus of MCMV-infected cells. The expression pattern and localization of the e1 proteins show significant similarity to those of the HCMV UL112-113 proteins, signifying that MCMV e1 will serve as a useful model for assessing the role of this early gene region during viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 700 W. Olney Road, Norfolk, VA 23501, USA.
authors.forename: Gina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Ciocco-Schmitt
authors.forename: Zaruhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karabekian
authors.forename: Earl W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Stenberg
authors.forename: Ann E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kerry
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D018146:Muromegalovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins