The products of the UL10 (gM) and the UL49.5 genes of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 are essential for virus growth in cultured cells.
The role of the products of the UL10 and the UL49.5 homologous genes of Marek's disease virus serotype 1 (MDV-1) in virus replication was investigated. Deletion of either open reading frame in an infectious bacterial artificial chromosome clone (BAC20) of MDV-1 resulted in progeny viruses that were unable to spread from cell to cell. After transfection of UL10- or UL49.5-negative BAC20 DNA into chicken or quail cells, only single infected cells were observed by indirect immunofluorescence analysis. In contrast, plaque formation was restored when mutant BAC DNAs were co-transfected with the corresponding expression plasmid encoding either the UL10-encoded gM or the UL49.5 gene product. These data demonstrate that gM and its putative complex partner, the UL49.5 homologous protein, are essential for MDV-1 growth in cultured cells. Thus, MDV-1 represents the first example of a member of the family Herpesviridae for which the highly conserved membrane proteins are indispensable for cell-to-cell spread.
Tischer
B Karsten
BK
Institute of Molecular Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institutes, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Boddenblick 5a, D-17498 Insel Riems, Germany1.
Schumacher
Daniel
D
Institute of Molecular Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institutes, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Boddenblick 5a, D-17498 Insel Riems, Germany1.
Messerle
Martin
M
Max von Pettenkofer-Institut, Genzentrum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany2.
Wagner
Markus
M
Max von Pettenkofer-Institut, Genzentrum, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Feodor-Lynen-Strasse 25, 81377 Munich, Germany2.
Osterrieder
Nikolaus
N
Institute of Molecular Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institutes, Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Boddenblick 5a, D-17498 Insel Riems, Germany1.
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002645:Chickens; D008381:Herpesvirus 2, Gallid / Q000254:growth & development*; D011784:Quail; D014162:Transfection; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
C450446:UL49 protein, Marek's disease virus type 1; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins