Open AccessThe herpes simplex virus type 1 tegument protein VP22 is encoded by gene UL49
Author(s) -
Gillian Elliott,
David M. Meredith
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of general virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.55
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1465-2099
pISSN - 0022-1317
DOI - 10.1099/0022-1317-73-3-723
Subject(s) - biology , herpes simplex virus , viral tegument , gene , transfection , virology , open reading frame , microbiology and biotechnology , gene product , immunofluorescence , virus , gene expression , antibody , genetics , peptide sequence
VP22 is a major tegument protein of herpes simplex virus type 1 and is highly phosphorylated in the infected cell. Indirect evidence exists to suggest that it is encoded by gene UL49, present in the BamHI F fragment of the genome. Using the polymerase chain reaction we have cloned the UL49 open reading frame into a mammalian expression vector under the control of the human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene promoter. After transfection into COS-7 cells expression of the gene product was detected by means of Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The results clearly indicate that the protein encoded by UL49 is VP22, and that in transfected cells it appears to have characteristics similar to those of the protein synthesized in infected cells.