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Published on: October 7, 2011
Characterization of human cytomegalovirus UL146 transcripts
1Clinical Genetics Department, The Affiliated Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, 110004 Shenyang, Liaoning, PR China.
Virus Research
|October 25, 2011
Summary
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL146 gene transcripts were identified in infant isolates. This transcript includes UL146 and four downstream open reading frames (ORFs), indicating true late gene expression.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genome research, especially the UL/b' region.
- Identification of UL146 gene transcripts in three HCMV isolates from congenitally infected infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the transcription of the HCMV UL146 gene and its associated downstream ORFs.
- To determine the initiation and termination sites of the UL146 transcript.
Main Methods:
- Northern blot hybridization
- cDNA library screening
- Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends-PCR (RACE-PCR)
Main Results:
- A transcript of approximately 3225 bp was identified, containing UL146 and four downstream ORFs (UL147 to UL132).
- Transcript initiation occurred upstream of UL146, and termination was downstream of UL132.
- Phosphonoacetic acid treatment inhibited the transcription of this gene cluster.
Conclusions:
- The UL146 open reading frame (ORF) is co-transcribed with four downstream ORFs (UL147-UL132) at true late kinetics.
- The transcript initiates 73 nucleotides upstream of UL146 and terminates downstream of UL132 in clinical HCMV isolates.
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