Transcriptional pattern of varicella-zoster virus glycoproteins E and I

Glycoproteins I (gI) and E (gE) of the Varicella-zoster virus are encoded by the neighbouring open reading frames 67 and 68. From earlier work it is known that both genes are transcribed into several transcript species which differ in size. From gI, three transcripts of 1.65, 2.7 and 3.6 kb and from gE, two transcripts of 2.15 and 3.6 kb in size are known. We present further northern analysis and show that these various transcript species appear in different amounts at different times after infection. 12 h after infection, transcripts of 1.65 kb (gI) and 2.15 kb (gE) were clearly detectable, whereas the other transcripts appeared later on. RT-PCR experiments using a set of seven different primers provided clear evidence that gI and gE are transcribed both, mono- and bicistronically with predominance on the respective monocistronic transcript.