
Expression from an internal AUG codon of herpes simplex thymidine kinase gene inserted in a retrovirus vector.
Author(s) -
Pradip K. Bandyopadhyay,
Howard M. Temin
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.4.4.743
Subject(s) - biology , thymidine kinase , retrovirus , herpes simplex virus , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , virology , gene expression , virus , start codon , thymidine , messenger rna , genetics , dna
We identified structural features that affect the expression of an exogenous gene inserted into a retrovirus vector constructed by using spleen necrosis virus, an avian retrovirus. The thymidine kinase gene from herpes simplex virus type 1 containing deletions in the promoter and terminal sequences of the mRNA was inserted into spleen necrosis virus. We found that synthesis of thymidine kinase by the recovered virus was apparently initiated from internal AUG residues. At least in some cases, however, the level of expression depended on the number of AUGs and the nucleotide sequence around the AUGs that preceded the initiator codon of the thymidine kinase gene.