An HDAC inhibitor increases AcMNPV gene expression in mammalian cells

The baculovirus Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) is used as a safer viral vector in mammalian cells with potential applications in gene therapy. However, the mechanism for the insusceptibility of mammalian cells to proliferative infection by entomopathogenic viruses is not well understood. Here, we studied the significance of epigenetic modifications such as histone acetylation, histone methylation and HP1 accumulation for AcMNPV gene expression in mammalian BHK cells. Real-time PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation with sodium butyrate revealed an important relationship between viral gene expression and histone acetylation, with implications for a mechanism of suppression of AcMNPV gene expression in BHK cells.