title: Characterization of the transcripts of human cytomegalovirus UL144.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genome of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has been studied extensively, particularly in the UL/b' region. In this study, transcripts of one of the UL/b' genes, UL144, were identified in 3 HCMV isolates obtained from urine samples of congenitally infected infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Northern blot hybridization, cDNA library screening, and RACE-PCR were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified at least 4 differentially regulated 3'-coterminal transcripts of UL144 in infected cells of 1,300, 1,600, 1,700, and 3,500 nucleotides (nt). The 1600 nt transcript was the major form of UL144 mRNA. The largest transcript initiated from the region within the UL141 open reading frame (ORF) and included UL141, UL142, UL143, UL144, and UL145 ORFs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings reveal the complex nature of the transcription of the UL144 gene in clinical isolates.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Genetics Department, The Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, 110004 Shenyang, Liaoning of China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yanping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yaohua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Zhengrong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Shujuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ruan
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital / Q000821:virology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015723:Gene Library; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014556:Urine / Q000821:virology; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C119624:UL144 ORF protein, Human herpesvirus 5; D014764:Viral Proteins