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Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 open reading frame 31 is required for viral replication
Qingmei Jia1, Ting-Ting Wu, Hsiang-I Liao
1Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Journal of Virology
|May 28, 2004
Summary
Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 open reading frame 31 (ORF31) is essential for viral replication. Its function is conserved in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, highlighting its importance in gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Herpesvirus Research
Background:
- Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68) serves as a model for human gammaherpesviruses like KSHV and EBV.
- Open reading frame 31 (ORF31) is a conserved protein within Beta- and Gammaherpesvirinae with an unknown function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize MHV-68 ORF31 and determine its role in viral replication.
- To investigate the functional conservation of ORF31 between MHV-68 and KSHV.
Main Methods:
- Utilized small interfering RNA (siRNA) to inhibit ORF31 expression.
- Generated and analyzed ORF31-null MHV-68 mutants (31STOP) using bacterial artificial chromosomes.
- Assessed viral production and protein expression in infected fibroblast cells.
- Complemented ORF31-null mutants with MHV-68 ORF31 and KSHV homologues.
Main Results:
- siRNA targeting ORF31 blocked MHV-68 protein expression and virus production.
- ORF31-null MHV-68 mutants were defective in viral replication.
- The replication defect was rescued by MHV-68 ORF31 and its KSHV homologue.
- Absence of ORF31 inhibited late lytic protein expression.
Conclusions:
- MHV-68 ORF31 is indispensable for viral lytic replication.
- The function of MHV-68 ORF31 is conserved in its KSHV homologue, suggesting a shared mechanism in gammaherpesvirus replication.