Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Use of a Recombinant Mosquito Densovirus As a Gene Delivery Vector for the Functional Analysis of Genes in Mosquito Larvae
Published on: October 6, 2017
Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus encodes a functional esterase (amv133) with protease activity
Emine Özşahin1, Kazım Sezen, Zihni Demirbağ
1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey.
Objectives:
Lipolytic genes have been investigated in several viral genomes, and some of them show enzyme activity which can be used for various functions including the production of DNA replication metabolites, rescue from endosomes, and membrane fusion. Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AMEV) replicates in nearly the entire insect body, especially in the adipose tissue. One of the open reading frames (ORFs) in the AMEV genome, amv133, encodes a putative lipase enzyme. In this study, we therefore investigate the enzyme activity of amv133.
Methods:
amv133 was aligned with known lipase genes and their homologs in entomopoxviruses. Expressed proteins were partially purified and assayed for lipase, esterase and protease.
Results:
We found that amv133 contains all the domains required for a functional lipase enzyme and that it shows a significant similarity with homologs in other entomopoxviruses. Since there is a similarity of the catalytic triad between lipases and serine proteases, we also investigated the protease activity of amv133. Lipase, esterase and protease assays showed that amv133 encodes a functional esterase enzyme with protease activity.
Conclusion:
The current data show that amv133 is a conserved gene in all entomopoxvirus genomes sequenced so far and might contribute greatly to degrading the lipids or proteins and hence improve the virus infection.
Insights
The Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AMEV) amv133 gene encodes a functional esterase with protease activity. This conserved viral gene likely aids infection by degrading host lipids and proteins.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Enzymology
Background:
- Lipolytic genes in viral genomes have diverse functions, including DNA replication metabolite production and membrane fusion.
- Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AMEV) infects insects, particularly adipose tissue.
- The AMEV genome contains an open reading frame, amv133, predicted to encode a lipase enzyme.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the enzyme activity of the AMEV amv133 gene product.
- To determine if amv133 exhibits lipase, esterase, or protease activity.
Main Methods:
- Bioinformatic alignment of amv133 with known lipase genes and homologs.
- Partial purification of expressed amv133 protein.
- Enzyme assays for lipase, esterase, and protease activity.
Main Results:
- The amv133 gene possesses domains characteristic of a functional lipase.
- amv133 shows significant similarity to homologs in other entomopoxviruses.
- Enzyme assays confirmed amv133 encodes a functional esterase with protease activity.
Conclusions:
- The amv133 gene is conserved across sequenced entomopoxvirus genomes.
- This viral esterase/protease may enhance virus infection by degrading host lipids and proteins.
