title: Characterization of ORF89--a latency-related gene of white spot syndrome virus.
abstract: Open reading frame 89 (ORF89) is one of the three genes that are believed to be involved in the latent infection of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Here, we report the structure and functional characterization of ORF89. cDNA sequencing, 5' RLM-RACE, and 3' RLM-RACE showed that ORF89 gene is transcribed into an unspliced mRNA of 4436 nucleotides, which is predicted to encode a protein of 1437 amino acids. ORF89 expressed an approximately 165-kDa protein in Sf9 cells that localized in the nucleus. Amino acids 678-683 were found to be essential for nuclear localization. Cotransfection assays demonstrated that ORF89 protein repressed its own promoter as well as those of a protein kinase and the thymidine-thymidylate kinase genes of WSSV. SYBR Green real-time PCR indicated that the repression occurred at the transcriptional level.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Biotechnology, Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, The National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Singapore.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Siti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khadijah
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kwang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D033561:Penaeidae / Q000821:virology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018411:Spodoptera; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics; D017735:Virus Latency / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019913:Nuclear Localization Signals; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011494:Protein Kinases; D013937:Thymidine Kinase