Localization and functional analysis of SeMNPV IE1 in mammalian cells

In this paper, the function of the ie1 gene from baculovirus Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV), belonging to group II nucleopolyhedrovirus, was studied in mammalian cells. We amplified the SeMNPV ie1 gene and expressed it by fusing to the C terminal of enhanced GFP protein in HEK 293 cells. Confocal microscopy revealed that the IE1-GFP fusion protein was localized in the nucleus of the mammalian cells. The promoter sequences of AcMNPV gp64, SeMNPV F protein and Drosophila hsp70 were also analyzed, to further study the function of SeMNPV IE1. The results showed that, in the absence of the hr sequence, IE1 improved the expression of the F promoter but didn't influence the gp64 promoter significantly, but IE1 moderately stimulated the hsp70 promoter.