title: Epitope-tagged L* protein of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus is expressed in the central nervous system in the acute phase of infection.
abstract: TO subgroup strains of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) synthesize L* protein from an alternative initiation codon. We first demonstrated L* expression in the central nervous system (CNS) of TMEV-infected mice during the acute phase of infection by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with anti-L* antibody. In addition, we generated mutant viruses which synthesize FLAG or 3xFLAG epitope-tagged L* protein. With a mutant virus expressing 3xFLAG epitope-tagged L*, designated DA/3xFLAGL*, we investigated L* in the CNS in the acute phase of infection. DA/3xFLAGL* did not change the virus tropism in comparison with wild-type virus, and L* was clearly identified in the CNS in both susceptible and resistant strains of mice. Double immunolabeling studies showed that L* is colocalized with TMEV polyprotein and exclusively expressed in neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Uchinada, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan. kasakura@kanazawa-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: Harunobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himeda
authors.forename: Yoshiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohara
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D018188:Cardiovirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides; D017945:Theilovirus / Q000737:chemistry*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000939:Epitopes; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides; D014764:Viral Proteins; C085706:FLAG peptide