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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
Co-immunoprecipitation of the Mouse Mx1 Protein with the Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein
Published on: April 21, 2015
Molecular characterization of the genes coding for glycoprotein and L protein of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
Jana Tomaskova1, Martina Labudova, Juraj Kopacek
1Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic. virujato@savba.sk
Abstract:
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is the prototype Arenavirus with ambisense coding strategy. We have previously described a new MX strain LCMV and determined the primary structure of the genes coding for the nucleoprotein and RING finger Z protein. In this report, we describe amplification and sequencing of the entire coding sequences of additional MX genes, the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) and L protein. The obtained MX GPC cDNA sequence was 1,615 nucleotides long and contained an ORF, which encodes the GPC precursor of 498 amino acids. MX L polymerase cDNA sequence was 6,668 nucleotides long and predicted ORF encodes the L polymerase of 2,209 amino acids. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were compared with the known GPC and L sequences and the comparison revealed that both genes shared the highest amino acid identity with Armstrong strain. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that MX represents a separate LCMV strain. The GPC and L genes products contained several characteristic conserved regions. On the other hand, we have observed numerous differences in predicted protein sequences, which distinguish MX LCMV from other LCMV strains and might be of potential biological significance.
Insights
Researchers characterized the MX strain of Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), detailing its glycoprotein precursor (GPC) and L polymerase genes. Phylogenetic analysis confirms MX as a distinct LCMV strain with unique protein sequence variations.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) is a prototype Arenavirus known for its ambisense coding strategy.
- Previous work identified a novel MX strain of LCMV and characterized its nucleoprotein and Z protein genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To amplify and sequence the complete coding regions of the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) and L polymerase genes from the MX LCMV strain.
- To compare these sequences with known LCMV strains to understand genetic relatedness and identify unique features.
Main Methods:
- Gene amplification and sequencing of GPC and L polymerase coding sequences from the MX LCMV strain.
- Bioinformatic analysis including nucleotide and amino acid sequence comparison.
- Phylogenetic analysis to determine the evolutionary relationship of the MX strain.
Main Results:
- The MX GPC cDNA sequence is 1,615 nucleotides encoding a 498 amino acid precursor.
- The MX L polymerase cDNA sequence is 6,668 nucleotides encoding a 2,209 amino acid polymerase.
- Both GPC and L sequences showed highest amino acid identity to the Armstrong strain, with phylogenetic analysis confirming MX as a separate LCMV strain.
- Conserved regions were identified in GPC and L proteins, alongside numerous sequence differences distinguishing MX LCMV from other strains.
Conclusions:
- The MX strain represents a distinct lineage within LCMV.
- Observed sequence variations in GPC and L proteins may confer unique biological properties to the MX LCMV strain.
- Further investigation into these differences is warranted to understand their functional implications.
