Deletion of AcMNPV ac146 eliminates the production of budded virus.
Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) ac146 is a highly conserved gene in the Alpha- and Betabaculovirus genera that has an unknown function. Northern blot analysis and transcript mapping showed that ac146 is transcribed at late times post infection as a 1.2 kb mRNA. To determine the role of ac146 in the baculovirus life cycle ac146 knock out viruses were constructed. Transfection and plaque assays showed that all the ac146 deletions produced a single cell phenotype indicating that no infectious budded virus (BV) was produced, however occlusion bodies were formed. The lack of BV production was confirmed by viral titration utilizing both qPCR and TCID₅₀. Analysis of BV and occlusion derived virus (ODV) revealed that AC146 is associated with both forms of the virus and is modified specifically in ODV. This study therefore demonstrates that AC146 is a late virion associated protein and is essential for the viral life cycle.
Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, Unit 2 Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, B.C. V1V 1V7, Canada.
Virginia L
VL
Dickison
Leslie G
LG
Willis
Nadia R
NR
Sokal
David A
DA
Theilmann
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018411:Spodoptera; D014162:Transfection; D019562:Viral Load; D010948:Viral Plaque Assay; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D057074:Virus Release
D014764:Viral Proteins