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Multiplicity dependent expression of the predominant phosphoprotein pp65 of human cytomegalovirus
1Institut für Klinische und Molekulare Virologie, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, F.R.G.
Abstract:
Recent clinical isolates of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) display considerable quantitative differences in the expression of the structural phosphoprotein pp65. This study shows that a reduced production of pp65 correlates with reduced amounts of its coding transcript in wild-type strains compared to the high level expression in the laboratory strain AD169. The cleavage pattern of the encoding DNAs including the promoter region did not show major differences among the isolates. Therefore the variable expression of pp65 is supposed to be dependent on cell culture conditions. Increasing multiplicities of infection resulted in overproduction of pp65 and this may lead to the increased formation of dense body particles.
Insights
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) clinical isolates show varying levels of phosphoprotein pp65. Reduced pp65 production in wild-type strains correlates with lower transcript levels, influenced by cell culture conditions.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a significant pathogen.
- The structural phosphoprotein pp65 is a key viral component with variable expression levels observed in clinical isolates.
- Understanding pp65 expression is crucial for HCMV research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the quantitative differences in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) phosphoprotein pp65 expression among clinical isolates.
- To determine the correlation between pp65 protein production and its coding transcript levels.
- To explore factors influencing pp65 expression variability.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of pp65 protein expression in HCMV clinical isolates.
- Quantification of pp65 coding transcripts.
- Comparison of DNA cleavage patterns and promoter regions.
- Assessment of pp65 expression under varying cell culture conditions and multiplicities of infection.
Main Results:
- A negative correlation was observed between pp65 production and its transcript levels in wild-type HCMV strains compared to the laboratory strain AD169.
- No significant differences were found in the cleavage patterns of encoding DNAs, including the promoter region, among isolates.
- Increased multiplicities of infection led to pp65 overproduction and potentially enhanced dense body particle formation.
Conclusions:
- Variable pp65 expression in HCMV clinical isolates is likely influenced by cell culture conditions rather than genetic variations in the promoter or DNA structure.
- pp65 overproduction, induced by high multiplicities of infection, may impact viral particle assembly.