Related Experiment Videos
Gene transfer using human polyomavirus BK virus-like particles expressed in insect cells
Antoine Touzé1, Latifa Bousarghin1, Céline Ster1
1Laboratoire de Virologie Moléculaire, EMI-U 00-10 Protéases et Vectorisation, IFR Transposons et Virus, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques 'Philippe Maupas', 31 avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, France1.
The Journal of General Virology
|November 21, 2001
Summary
BK polyomavirus (BKV) VP1 protein self-assembles into virus-like particles (VLPs) capable of gene transfer. These BKV VLPs efficiently deliver DNA into cells, with entry dependent on cell surface sialic acid.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- BK polyomavirus (BKV) is a human virus.
- The major structural protein, VP1, is crucial for BKV structure and function.
- Understanding BKV VP1 assembly and gene transfer capabilities is important for potential applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To express and characterize BK polyomavirus (BKV) VP1 protein.
- To investigate the self-assembly of BKV VP1 into virus-like particles (VLPs).
- To evaluate the potential of BKV VP1 VLPs for gene transfer into mammalian cells.
Main Methods:
- Recombinant baculovirus expression system used to produce BKV VP1.
- Characterization of BKV VP1 self-assembly into VLPs (45-50 nm diameter).
- Investigation of gene transfer into COS-7 cells using BKV VP1 VLPs and three pseudo-virion formation methods.
Main Results:
- Recombinant BKV VP1 self-assembled into VLPs.
- BKV VP1 VLPs demonstrated DNA-binding capacity.
- Direct interaction between linearized plasmid DNA and BKV VLPs proved most efficient for gene transfer.
- Gene transfer efficiency was comparable to human papillomavirus L1 VLPs.
- Cellular entry of BKV pseudo-virions was dependent on cell surface sialic acid.
Conclusions:
- BK polyomavirus (BKV) VP1 protein can self-assemble into functional virus-like particles (VLPs).
- BKV VLPs show potential for gene delivery applications, with direct DNA interaction being the most effective method.
- Cellular uptake mechanism of BKV pseudo-virions involves interaction with cell surface sialic acid.