Functional dissection of the baculovirus late expression factor-8 gene: sequence requirements for late gene promoter activation.
The late expression factor-8 gene (lef-8) of Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus encodes the largest subunit of the virally encoded DNA-directed RNA polymerase specific for the transcription of late and very late viral genes. The sequence of lef-8 predicts a C-terminal motif of 13 amino acids that is conserved in other polymerases. Detailed mutagenesis throughout lef-8 was performed, including this C-terminal motif, to define sequences required for late promoter activation. It was found that the conserved C-terminal motif was critical for late gene expression. In addition, regions throughout the entire lef-8-encoding sequence were important for optimal function, suggesting complex protein-protein and protein-DNA interrelationships in the late gene-specific viral transcriptosome.
Titterington
Jane S
JS
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 232 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901, USA.
Nun
Tamara K
TK
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 232 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901, USA.
Passarelli
A Lorena
AL
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Program, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, 232 Ackert Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4901, USA.
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000821:virology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D014764:Viral Proteins; C087702:late expression factor 8, Baculovirus