title: The Campoletis sonorensis ichnovirus vankyrin protein P-vank-1 inhibits apoptosis in insect Sf9 cells.
abstract: The Campoletis sonorensis ichnovirus (CsIV) vankyrin genes encode proteins containing truncated ankyrin repeat domains with sequence homology to the inhibitory domains of NF-kappaB transcription factor inhibitors, IkappaBs. The CsIV vankyrin proteins are thought to be involved in the suppression of NF-kappaB activity during immune response and/or developmental events in the parasitized host. Here we report that when P-vank-1 was expressed stably from Sf9 cells, prolonged survival of these cells was observed after baculovirus infection, UV irradiation, and treatment with the apoptosis-inducing chemical camptothecin compared to untransformed Sf9 cells. Furthermore, P-vank-1 inhibited nuclear and internucleosomal degradation and caspase activity after induction of apoptosis in Sf9 cells stably expressing P-vank-1. This is the first report of a polydnavirus protein with anti-apoptotic function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0091, USA. afath@uky.edu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fath-Goodin
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kroemer
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D018071:Polydnaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D018411:Spodoptera / Q000166:cytology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014764:Viral Proteins; D020169:Caspases