Molecular characterization and antiapoptotic function analysis of the duck plague virus Us5 gene

Thus far, there have been no reports on the molecular characterization and antiapoptotic function of the DPV Us5 gene. To perform molecular characterization of DPV Us5, RT-PCR and pharmacological inhibition tests were used to ascertain the kinetic class of the Us5 gene. Western blotting and an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) were used to analyze the expression level and subcellular localization of Us5 in infected cells at different time points. Us5 in purified DPV virions was identified by mass spectrometry. The results of RT-PCR, Western blotting, and pharmacological inhibition tests revealed that Us5 is transcribed mainly in the late stage of viral replication. The IFA results revealed that Us5 was localized throughout DPV-infected cells but was localized only to the cytoplasm of transfected cells. Mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis showed that Us5 was a virion component. Next, to study the antiapoptotic function of DPV Us5, we found that DPV CHv without gJ could induce more apoptosis cells than DPV-CHv BAC and rescue virus. we constructed a model of apoptosis in duck embryo fibroblasts (DEFs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Transfected cells expressing the Us5 gene were protected from apoptosis induced by H₂O₂, as measured by a TUNEL assay, a caspase activation assay and Flow Cytometry assay. The TUNEL assay and Flow Cytometry assay results showed that the recombinant plasmid pCAGGS-Us5 could inhibit apoptosis induced by H₂O₂ in DEF cells. However, caspase-3/7 and caspase-9 protein activity upregulated by H₂O₂ was significantly reduced in cells expressing the recombinant plasmid pCAGGS-Us5. Overall, these results show that the DPV Us5 gene is a late gene and that the Us5 protein is a component of the virion, is localized in the cytoplasm, and can inhibit apoptosis induced by H₂O₂ in DEF cells.