Bm65 is essential for the propagation of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus.
Orf65 (Bm65) of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a highly conserved gene that encodes an unknown 104-amino acid protein. In the present study, we have shown the role of Bm65 in the baculovirus life cycle. 5'-RACE analysis showed that the transcription start site of Bm65 was 14 nucleotides upstream of the start codon ATG. The transcription profile of Bm65 was detected from 6 to 72 h postinfection (p. i.) by RT-PCR. A Bm65-knockout bacmid was constructed by homologous recombination to characterize the role of Bm65 in viral life cycle. Fluorescence microscopy showed that Bm65-knockout virus was unable to generate infectious budded virus in BmN cells. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that Bm65 deletion did not affect the viral DNA replication. To conclude, Bm65 is essential for the propagation of BmNPV, but is unnecessary for the replication of viral DNA.
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China. tangqi1224@163.com
Qi
Q
Tang
Guohui
G
Li
Qin
Q
Yao
Liang
L
Chen
Fan
F
Feng
Yi
Y
Yuan
Keping
K
Chen
D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D018387:Codon, Initiator; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D020043:Genes, Essential; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses / Q000254:growth & development*; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication
D018387:Codon, Initiator; D014764:Viral Proteins