title: Analyses of the transcriptional pattern of glycoproteins E and I of Varicella-zoster virus and evidence for a monocistronic transcription.
abstract: Glycoproteins I and E of the Varicella-zoster virus, encoded by the neighbouring open reading frames 67 and 68, are transcribed into several transcript species that differ in size. From gI, three transcripts of 1.65, 2.7, and 3.6 kb are known, and from gE, two transcripts of 2.15 and 3.6 kb in size are known. Here, we demonstrate that these various transcript species appear in different amounts at different times post infection. At 12 hr post infection, the transcripts of 1.65 (gI) and 2.15 (gE) were clearly detectable, whereas the other transcripts appeared later on. RT-PCR studies using a set of different primers provided clear evidence that gI and gE are transcribed both, mono- and bicistronically, with predominance on the respective monocistronic transcript. Additional evidence for monocistronic transcription was found in the fact that both glycoproteins contain their own transcriptional start sites. Both promoter regions have their own basal transcription activity and include active TATA-boxes that were recognized by the TATA-box binding protein.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Virology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Stockumer Strasse 10, D-58448 Witten, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahaus
authors.forename: Manfred H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wolff
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005814:Genes, Viral; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C056913:glycoprotein E, varicella-zoster virus