title: Characterisation of the nucleic acid binding features of the PRRSV 7ap and its ability to induce antinuclear antibodies.
abstract: A short alternative open reading frame named ORF7a has recently been discovered within the nucleocapsid gene of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) genome. Proteins (7ap) translated from the ORF7a of two divergent strains - a type I and a type II - are able to completely reduce the motility of nucleic acids at relatively high molar charge ratios in gel retardation assays indicating strong dsDNA- and ssRNA-binding capability. Conserved RNA- and DNA-binding properties suggest that nucleic acid binding is a functional property of the divergent 7aps, and not an arbitrary consequence of their net positive charge. Sera from Hu7ap-immunised pigs and mice did not react with Hu7ap or Hu7ap-GFP; however, antinuclear antibodies were detected in the sera of the immunised animals, suggesting an ability of Hu7ap to interact with or mimic autoantigenic macromolecules.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences , Hungária krt. 21, H-1143 Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: Ferenc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olasz
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate National Food Chain Safety Office , Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dénes
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate National Food Chain Safety Office , Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: Ádám
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Bálint
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences , Hungária krt. 21, H-1143 Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magyar
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health (BVF), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) , Uppsala , Sweden.
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belák
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences , Hungária krt. 21, H-1143 Budapest , Hungary.
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zádori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019318:Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control; D019316:Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D019590:Nucleocapsid Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA
keywords: 7ap proteins; ORF7a; Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus; antinuclear antibodies; nucleic acid binding features