title: Promoter analysis of the Chilo iridescent virus DNA polymerase and major capsid protein genes.
abstract: The DNA polymerase (DNApol) and major capsid protein (MCP) genes were used as models to study promoter activity in Chilo iridescent virus (CIV). Infection of Bombyx mori SPC-BM-36 cells in the presence of inhibitors of DNA or protein synthesis showed that DNApol, as well as helicase, is an immediate-early gene and confirmed that the major capsid protein (MCP) is a late gene. Transcription of DNApol initiated 35 nt upstream and that of MCP 14 nt upstream of the translational start site. In a luciferase reporter gene assay both promoters were active only when cells were infected with CIV. For DNApol sequences between position -27 and -6, relative to the transcriptional start site, were essential for promoter activity. Furthermore, mutation of a G within the sequence TTGTTTT located just upstream of the DNApol transcription initiation site reduced the promoter activity by 25%. Sequences crucial for MCP promoter activity are located between positions -53 and -29.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Wageningen University, Binnenhaven 11, 6709 PD, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Remziye
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nalçacioğlu
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Just M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vlak
authors.forename: Zihni
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Demirbaĝ
authors.forename: Monique M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van Oers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D012831:Bombyx / Q000821:virology; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017994:Iridovirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D008156:Luciferases; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D004265:DNA Helicases