Molecular cloning of DNA complementary to mRNA of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus: location and gene products of RNA transcripts found late in infection

Controlled and customizable baculovirus NOS3 gene delivery using PVA-based hydrogel systems

Nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) eluting polyvinyl alcohol-based hydrogels have a large potential in medical applications and device coatings. NOS3 promotes nitric oxide and nitrate production and can effectively be delivered using insect cell viruses, termed baculoviruses. Nitric oxide is known for regulating cell proliferation, promoting blood vessel vasodilation, and inhibiting bacterial growth. The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based hydrogels investigated here sustained baculovirus elution from five to 25 days, depending on the hydrogel composition. The quantity of viable baculovirus loaded significantly declined with each freeze-thaw from one to four (15.3 ± 2.9% vs. 0.9 ± 0.5%, respectively). The addition of gelatin to the hydrogels protected baculovirus viability during the freeze-thaw cycles, resulting in a loading capacity of 94.6 ± 1.2% with sustained elution over 23 days. Adding chitosan, PEG-8000, and gelatin to the hydrogels altered the properties of the hydrogel, including swelling, blood coagulation, and antimicrobial effects, beneficial for different therapeutic applications. Passive absorption of the baculovirus into PVA hydrogels exhibited the highest baculovirus loading (96.4 ± 0.6%) with elution over 25 days. The baculovirus-eluting hydrogels were hemocompatible and non-cytotoxic, with no cell proliferation or viability reduction after incubation. This PVA delivery system provides a method for high loading and sustained release of baculoviruses, sustaining nitric oxide gene delivery. This proof of concept has clinical applications as a medical device or stent coating by delivering therapeutic genes, improving blood compatibility, preventing thrombosis, and preventing infection.

Alginate-Chitosan Hydrogel Formulations Sustain Baculovirus Delivery and VEGFA Expression Which Promotes Angiogenesis for Wound Dressing Applications

Hydrogel wound dressings are effective in their ability to provide a wound-healing environment but are limited by their ability to promote later stages of revascularization. Here, a biosafe recombinant baculovirus expressing VEGFA tagged with EGFP is encapsulated in chitosan-coated alginate hydrogels using ionic cross-linking. The VEGFA, delivered by the baculovirus, significantly improves cell migration and angiogenesis to assist with the wound-healing process and revascularization. Moreover, the hydrogels have an encapsulation efficiency of 99.9%, no cytotoxicity, antimicrobial properties, good blood compatibility, promote hemostasis, and enable sustained delivery of baculoviruses over eight days. These hydrogels sustain baculovirus delivery and may have clinical implications in wound dressings or future gene therapy applications.

Baculoviruses in Gene Therapy and Personalized Medicine

This review will outline the role of baculoviruses in gene therapy and future potential in personalized medicine. Baculoviruses are a safe, non-toxic, non-integrative vector with a large cloning capacity. Baculoviruses are also a highly adaptable, low-cost vector with a broad tissue and host tropism due to their ability to infect both quiescent and proliferating cells. Moreover, they only replicate in insect cells, not mammalian cells, improving their biosafety. The beneficial properties of baculoviruses make it an attractive option for gene delivery. The use of baculoviruses in gene therapy has advanced significantly, contributing to vaccine production, anti-cancer therapies and regenerative medicine. Currently, baculoviruses are primarily used for recombinant protein production and vaccines.  This review will also discuss methods to optimize baculoviruses protein production and mammalian cell entry, limitations and potential for gene therapy and personalized medicine. Limitations such as transient gene expression, complement activation and virus fragility are discussed in details as they can be overcome through further genetic modifications and other methods. This review concludes that baculoviruses are an excllent candidate for gene therapy, personalized medicine and other biotherapeutic applications.

In cultured cells the baculovirus P10 protein forms two independent intracellular structures that play separate roles in occlusion body maturation and their release by nuclear disintegration

P10 is a small, abundant baculovirus protein that accumulates to high levels in the very late stages of the infection cycle. It is associated with a number of intracellular structures and implicated in diverse processes from occlusion body maturation to nuclear stability and lysis. However, studies have also shown that it is non-essential for virus replication, at least in cell culture. Here, we describe the use of serial block-face scanning electron microscopy to achieve high-resolution 3D characterisation of P10 structures within Trichoplusia ni TN-368 cells infected with Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus. This has enabled unparalleled visualisation of P10 and determined the independent formation of dynamic perinuclear and nuclear vermiform fibrous structures. Our 3D data confirm the sequence of ultrastructural changes that create a perinuclear cage from thin angular fibrils within the cytoplasm. Over the course of infection in cultured cells, the cage remodels to form a large polarised P10 mass and we suggest that these changes are critical for nuclear lysis to release occlusion bodies. In contrast, nuclear P10 forms a discrete vermiform structure that was observed in close spatial association with both electron dense spacers and occlusion bodies; supporting a previously suggested role for P10 and electron dense spacers in the maturation of occlusion bodies. We also demonstrate that P10 hyper-expression is critical for function. Decreasing levels of p10 expression, achieved by manipulation of promoter length, correlated with reduced P10 production, a lack of formation of P10 structures and a concomitant decrease in nuclear lysis.

High-resolution 3D electron microscopy has revealed the complexity of structures formed by P10, a small 10kDa protein that accumulates to very high levels in baculovirus-infected cells. We demonstrate the formation and presence of two distinct, possibly unique, P10 structures that account for the diverse roles associated with this small protein. In the cytoplasm, a peri-nuclear cage-like structure matured into a polarised mass of P10. Remodelling of the cage provides evidence for a mechanism to effect nuclear lysis and release of occlusion bodies to promote dispersal. Over a similar time period, an independent vermiform P10 structure forms and matures within the cell nucleus. It is widely known that in the absence of P10, occlusion bodies do not fully mature. Our data suggest a mechanism for occlusion body maturation with P10 facilitating the envelopment of occlusion bodies with electron dense spacers. The P10 structures formed require vast quantities of P10 protein providing a rationale for the hyper-expression of this hitherto obscure viral protein.

Hijacked then lost in translation: the plight of the recombinant host cell in membrane protein structural biology projects

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Membrane protein structural biologists need high-quality protein for crystallisation.

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Recombinant proteins are central to the structural biology supply chain.

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Understanding quality control in protein production is an emerging trend.

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The roles of translation and protein folding in the host cell are examined.

Membrane protein structural biology is critically dependent upon the supply of high-quality protein. Over the last few years, the value of crystallising biochemically characterised, recombinant targets that incorporate stabilising mutations has been established. Nonetheless, obtaining sufficient yields of many recombinant membrane proteins is still a major challenge. Solutions are now emerging based on an improved understanding of recombinant host cells; as a ‘cell factory’ each cell is tasked with managing limited resources to simultaneously balance its own growth demands with those imposed by an expression plasmid. This review examines emerging insights into the role of translation and protein folding in defining high-yielding recombinant membrane protein production in a range of host cells.

Quality control in eukaryotic membrane protein overproduction

The overexpression of authentically folded eukaryotic membrane proteins in milligramme quantities is a fundamental prerequisite for structural studies. One of the most commonly used expression systems for the production of mammalian membrane proteins is the baculovirus expression system in insect cells. However, a detailed analysis by radioligand binding and comparative Western blotting of G protein-coupled receptors and a transporter produced in insect cells showed that a considerable proportion of the expressed protein was misfolded and incapable of ligand binding. In contrast, production of the same membrane proteins in stable inducible mammalian cell lines suggested that the majority was folded correctly. It was noted that detergent solubilisation of the misfolded membrane proteins using either digitonin or dodecylmaltoside was considerablyless efficient than using sodium dodecyl sulfate or foscholine-12, whilst these detergents were equally efficient at solubilising correctly folded membrane proteins. This provides a simple and rapid test to suggest whether heterologously expressed mammalian membrane proteins are indeed correctly folded, without requiring radioligand binding assays. This will greatly facilitate the high-throughput production of fully functional membrane proteins for structural studies.

Use of baculovirus expression system for generation of virus-like particles: successes and challenges

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A brief overview of principles and applications of BES.

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Generation of VLPs using BES.

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Major properties of BES: promoting generation of VLPs.

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Bioprocess considerations for generation of VLPs.

The baculovirus expression system (BES) has been one of the versatile platforms for the production of recombinant proteins requiring multiple post-translational modifications, such as folding, oligomerization, phosphorylation, glycosylation, acylation, disulfide bond formation and proteolytic cleavage. Advances in recombinant DNA technology have facilitated application of the BES, and made it possible to express multiple proteins simultaneously in a single infection and to produce multimeric proteins sharing functional similarity with their natural analogs. Therefore, the BES has been used for the production of recombinant proteins and the construction of virus-like particles (VLPs), as well as for the development of subunit vaccines, including VLP-based vaccines. The VLP, which consists of one or more structural proteins but no viral genome, resembles the authentic virion but cannot replicate in cells. The high-quality recombinant protein expression and post-translational modifications obtained with the BES, along with its capacity to produce multiple proteins, imply that it is ideally suited to VLP production. In this article, we critically review the pros and cons of using the BES as a platform to produce both enveloped and non-enveloped VLPs.

The Trichoplusia ni cell line MSU-TnT4 does not harbor a latent nodavirus

MSU-TnT4 (TnT4) cells, a newly established Trichoplusia ni cell line, was examined for the presence of a latent nodavirus, as had been described for another T. ni cell line, BTI-TN-5B1-4 (Hi5) cells. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using nodavirus-specific primers did not detect virus genomic RNA in TnT4 cells. Transmission electron microscopy of recombinant baculovirus-infected TnT4 cells showed no evidence of latent nodavirus activation. Nodavirus particles were not detected in density gradients of baculovirus-infected TnT4 cell lysates or cell supernatants. The same methods confirmed the presence of a latent nodavirus in Hi5 cells.

Bacterial, viral, and fungal insecticides

Microorganisms that are pathogenic to insects provide a wealth of biological material that can be exploited by humans to control insect pests. Innovative applications of a few such entomopathogens are found throughout the world, but widespread commercial production of microbial insecticides awaits further studies of the biology, ecology, and pathogenicity of the agents. Genetic engineering techniques may be used to increase the virulence of these microorganisms, as well as to make them more tolerant of physical and chemical conditions and perhaps to broaden their host ranges. The use of microbial insecticides could decrease our dependence on chemical pesticides.

Viral Transcription During Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Infection: a Novel RNA Polymerase Induced in Infected Spodoptera frugiperda Cells

Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus-specific RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei of Spodoptera frugiperda cells in culture was monitored at different times postinfection. Up to 8 h postinfection viral RNA synthesis remained sensitive to 5 mug of alpha-amanitin per ml. During the course of infection this sensitivity decreased, and at 24 h postinfection RNA synthesis was completely resistant to alpha-amanitin. DEAE-Sephadex profiles of RNA polymerase isolated at 24 h postinfection showed a new, chromatographically distinct, alpha-amanitin-resistant form whose kinetics and response to divalent cations differed from those of the host RNA polymerases. The possibility that this enzyme may be responsible for viral late transcription is discussed.

Complete Sequence and Enhancer Function of the Homologous DNA Regions of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus

The nucleotide sequence of the five regions of homologous DNA in the genome of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNA was determined. The homology of repeated sequences within a region was 65 to 87%, and the consensus sequences for each region were 88% homologous to each other. Sequences proximal to the EcoRI sites were most conserved, while the distal sequences were least conserved. The EcoRI sites formed the core of a 28-base-pair imperfect inverted repeat. All homologous regions functioned as enhancers in a transient expression assay. A single EcoRI minifragment located between EcoRI-Q and -L enhanced the expression of 39CAT as efficiently as the regions containing numerous EcoRI repeats did.

Mapping of Early and Late Transcripts Encoded by the Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Genome: Is Viral RNA Spliced?

Early and late transcripts were mapped on the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome by Northern blotting and hybridization with the cloned viral EcoRI fragments. At least 11 early and about 90 late RNAs were compared with over 32 polypeptides synthesized by in vitro translation of hybrid-selected RNA. The latter method, of course, had its limitations also and did not guarantee that all viral RNAs could be detected in this way. A comparison of cytoplasmic and total cellular RNAs showed no clear-cut differences in their size distributions. We found that there were more RNA classes than corresponding proteins encoded by them and mapped by in vitro translation. By using the Berk-Sharp method and analyses of DNA-RNA hybrids by one-dimensional or two-dimensional neutral and alkaline gel electrophoreses, we were unable to adduce evidence for RNA splicing in this viral system. Minor splices, particularly at sites close to the termini of RNA molecules, could not be excluded.

Molecular Engineering of the Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Genome: Deletion Mutations Within the Polyhedrin Gene

We describe a method to introduce site-specific mutations into the genome of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. Specifically, the A. californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus gene for polyhedrin, the major protein that forms viral occlusions in infected cells, was mutagenized by introducing deletions into the cloned DNA fragment containing the gene. The mutagenized polyhedrin gene was transferred to the intact viral DNA by mixing fragment and viral DNAs, cotransfecting Spodoptera frugiperda cells, and screening for viral recombinants that had undergone allelic exchange. Recombinant viruses with mutant polyhedrin genes were obtained by selecting the progeny virus that did not produce viral occlusions in infected cells (occlusion-negative mutants). Analyses of occlusion-negative mutants demonstrated that the polyhedrin gene was not essential for the production of infectious virus and that deletion of certain sequences within the gene did not alter the control, or decrease the level of expression, of polyhedrin. An early viral protein of 25,000 molecular weight was apparently not essential for virus replication in vitro, as the synthesis of this protein was not detected in cells infected with a mutant virus.

Time Course Analysis and Mapping of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Transcripts

To study the expression of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) genome, intracellular virus-specific proteins and mRNAs were pulsed-labeled, extracted, and analyzed at 6-h intervals during the replicative cycle. Most RNAs were detected between 12 and 24 h postinfection (p.i.), but many continued to be synthesized until late in infection. Polyhedrin and p8 mRNAs were the two most abundant late viral RNA transcripts, and they were synthesized at high rates until late in the infection cycle (60 h p.i.). The abundancy control of polyhedrin and p8 polypeptides was considered to be at the level of transcription. Two other major mRNAs in infected cells were 0.6-kilobase RNA, which was synthesized at its highest rate 12 to 18 h p.i., and 2.8-kilobase RNA, which was synthesized from 12 h p.i. until 48 h p.i. Cytoplasmic polyadenylic acid-containing RNA was isolated at 6-h intervals and was analyzed by Northern blot hybridization. At least 50 virus RNA transcripts were recognized, sized, and mapped onto the genome. Six RNAs hybridized to EcoRI-H, -I, and -J, and HindIII-Q AcNPV DNA restriction fragments, seven RNAs hybridized to EcoRI-B and -D DNA fragments, five RNAs hybridized to EcoRI-A and -E regions of the genome, four RNAs hybridized to EcoRI-C and -N DNA fragments, and one RNA species hybridized to EcoRI-O AcNPV DNA. A transcription map of the AcNPV genome was constructed, and the data were correlated with previously published translation maps.

A temperature-sensitive mutant of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus defective in an early function required for further gene expression

Fifteen temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) have been analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of proteins synthesized in infected cells. One of the mutants, tsB821, was found to be defective in a very early function. Seven virus-induced proteins were synthesized by 2 hr postinfection. In marked contrast to wild-type virus and the other 14 ts mutants, the synthesis of further virus-induced proteins did not occur in tsB821-infected cells at the restrictive temperature (33 degrees ). Host protein synthesis continued as normal after transient expression of the seven early proteins. Viral-specific DNA synthesis was blocked or significantly delayed in tsB821-infected cells at 33 degrees . The relative synthesis of certain viral-induced proteins, particularly P31, P32, P42, P66, and P69, varied considerably in the remaining 14 mutants at 33 degrees. Three mutants exhibited alterations in specific polypeptides; P75 was approximately 1 kDa smaller in tsB1075, P40 was approximately 1 kDa smaller in tsB951, and P25 was greatly reduced in quantity or altered in tsB305.

Milestones leading to the genetic engineering of baculoviruses as expression vector systems and viral pesticides

The baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS) is widely established as a highly useful and effective eukaryotic expression system. Thousands of soluble and membrane proteins that, in general, are correctly folded, modified, sorted and assembled to produce highly authentic recombinant proteins have been cloned and expressed. This historical chronology and perspective will focus on the original, peer-reviewed discoveries that were pioneering and seminal to the development of the BEVS and that provided the basis for subsequent and more recent developments and applications.

Formation of P10 tubular structures during AcMNPV infection depends on the integrity of host-cell microtubules

During infection of insect cells with Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), the very late protein P10 forms large fibrillar structures in the cytoplasm and nuclei of infected cells. In this study we have used confocal microscopy in association with a novel P10 antiserum to localise and study P10 in virus-infected cells. P10 was shown to be a component of tubular-like structures that spiralled throughout the cytoplasm and nucleus of AcMNPV-infected cells. These structures were observed to colocalise partly with cortical microtubules. When microtubules were depolymerised with the drug nocodazole, P10 tubules failed to form and the protein appeared concentrated in cytoplasmic foci. For the first time, we provide direct evidence using both antibody pulldown and yeast two-hybrid experiments for the interaction of P10 with host-cell tubulin. It is suggested that this interaction may be a critical factor in AcMNPV-induced cell lysis.

Production of a urokinase plasminogen activator-IgG fusion protein (uPA-IgG) in the baculovirus expression system

Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and its receptor, uPAR, in the processes of tumor progression and metastasis. Thus, the uPA/uPAR interaction may represent an important target for inhibiting metastatic disease. The baculovirus expression system was used to produce high levels of a secreted uPA-Immunoglobulin G fusion protein (uPA-IgG) which could then be used for displacing uPA from the surface of tumor cells. The recombinant uPA-IgG fusion protein was placed under the control of either the viral polyhedrin promoter or a copy of the viral basic protein promoter. Recombinant viruses were then used to infect Sf9 and BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells. Infection of both cell types resulted in the production of secreted uPA-IgG. The molecular mass of the secreted protein as determined by SDS-PAGE was approximately 40 kDa. The highest level of secreted uPA-IgG, 444 microg/ml, was found in the culture medium of BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells 72 h post-infection with the basic protein promoter-uPA-IgG virus. In the case of Sf9 cells, the highest level of secreted protein was 195 microg/ml. The amount of cell-associated uPA-IgG in infected BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells was significantly less than that of infected Sf9 cells, reflecting the superior secretory capability of the BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells. The uPA-IgG was readily purified using a combination of zinc chelate and sephacryl S-100 column chromatography. Routinely, greater than 100 mg of greater than 95% pure protein could be obtained per liter of culture medium collected at 72 h post-infection of BTI-Tn-5B1-4 cells with the basic protein promoter virus. BIAcore analysis and competition binding assays using LOX human malignant melanoma cells expressing uPAR indicated that the purified recombinant protein possessed similar ligand binding characteristics to that of human uPA.

Effect of an Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virion component(s) on DNA synthesis and growth in several insect cell lines

Thirteen different insect cell lines representing three different orders were infected with Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) whose genome had been inactivated in situ by photochemical means or by short wave UV irradiation. Changes in rates of cellular DNA synthesis, as measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation, and cell growth were subsequently measured at various times post infection. Seven cell lines exhibited a significant decline in [3H]thymidine incorporation (compared to control levels) during an initial 12 h period post infection, while three cell lines showed substantial declines in [3H]thymidine incorporation over a 4 day period post infection. All cell lines which showed a significant decline in [3H]thymidine over the duration of the experiment (4 days) also exhibited reduced cell growth rates. The role of a putative AcMNPV virion associated factor(s) in influencing these cellular events is discussed.

Downstream sequences augment transcription from the essential initiation site of a baculovirus polyhedrin gene

A series of recombinant baculoviruses containing linker-substituted polyhedrin promoters attached to a reporter gene encoding chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) were constructed and tested for expression of the gene. The major determinant for promoter activity was narrowed to within eight nucleotides, TAAGTATT, at the start point of polyhedrin mRNA transcription. Mutations within TAAGTATT blocked initiation of transcription from this site and resulted in a 2000-fold decrease in CAT activity. Linker mutations from 12 to 22 bases upstream from the TAAGTATT sequence increased the steady-state levels of RNAs initiated within TAAGTATT and increased CAT expression by up to 50%. Mutations downstream from TAAGTATT and within the region specifying the untranslated RNA leader diminished transcriptional initiation at TAAGTATT and decreased CAT activity two- to 20-fold. The half-lives of CAT RNAs were not noticeably affected by mutations in the untranslated RNA leader region and thus RNA turn-over was not responsible for the reduced levels of these CAT RNAs. Nuclear run-on analysis of two mutant viruses showed that these mutations decrease the rate of transcriptional initiation. Transcriptional initiation thus appears to be the major means of polyhedrin gene regulation. The data define promoter-related roles for TAAGTATT and the sequences specifying the untranslated mRNA leader in transcriptional initiation. A model by which the viral-induced RNA polymerase distinguishes late and very late initiation sites is proposed.

Identification, sequence, and transcriptional mapping of the major capsid protein gene of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus

The gene encoding the major capsid protein of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) was identified, sequenced, and transcriptionally mapped. The location of the gene was determined by immunological screening of an expression library of AcMNPV open reading frame-beta-galactosidase fusions with an antibody raised to virus structural proteins. The DNA sequence of the corresponding region, which mapped within 56.6 and 58.0 map units on the AcMNPV genome, revealed a 1,040-base-pair open reading frame capable of encoding a 39-kilodalton polypeptide. The identity of the polypeptide was determined by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis of purified empty capsids with an antibody raised to the capsid-beta-galactosidase fusion protein. The identity of the peptide encoded by the gene was confirmed by immunoprecipitation of an in vitro translation product with RNA selected by hybridization to DNA sequences from the coding region of the gene. Transcripts of the capsid gene were analyzed by Northern (RNA) blots and mapped by nuclease protection and primer extension analysis. The capsid gene is transcribed maximally at 12 and 24 h postinfection but not in the presence of cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, or aphidicolin, a viral DNA synthesis inhibitor, and is therefore classified as a late gene. The gene is transcribed in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the circular map. There are three transcriptional start sites, all containing the AGTAAG consensus sequence found at the start site of all late AcMNPV genes.

Identification and nucleotide sequence of the regions of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome carrying insertion elements derived from Spodoptera frugiperda

A morphology mutant of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus called M5 was previously shown to synthesize two size classes of viral DNA, one of which had a deletion of 42% of the genome. It was hypothesized that the presence of the smaller M5 circular DNA resulted from the specific deletion of the region located between two sites carrying short DNA insertions. These sites have now been identified by DNA-DNA hybridization using cloned EcoRI fragments of M5 DNA. One cloned M5 EcoRI fragment was found to correspond to the deletion junction fragment where sequences from the insertion site in the 2.6-map unit region were covalently linked to sequences from the insertion site in the 46-map unit region. The 2.6- and 46-map unit regions of Wt AcMNPV DNA were sequenced. Potential long open reading frames which would be disrupted by the M5 inserts were detected. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the same regions of M5 DNA revealed the presence of almost identical inserts of 290 bp. The primary sequence of the inserts revealed characteristics similar to the termini of transposons. Hybridization studies suggested that the inserts were derived from repetitive elements of the Spodoptera frugiperda host cell genome.

Characterization of baculovirus p10 synthesis using monoclonal antibodies

A series of monoclonal antibodies were produced against virion proteins of the multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Orgyia pseudotsugata (OpMNPV). Four of these antibodies reacted with a protein of 14 kd on Western blots of electrophoretically separated OpMNPV virion proteins. These antibodies were used to identify immunoreactive clones from a lambda gt11 expression library of OpMNPV DNA. By hybridization of insert DNA from the lambda gt11 clones to blots of digests of OpMNPV genomic DNA, and by sequencing the ends of the lambda gt11 inserts, these clones were shown to contain a portion of the p10 gene. The regions containing epitopes recognized by the four monoclonal antibodies were located using fusion proteins made from selected portions of the p10 reading frame in a trpE vector. One of the p10 antibodies was used to characterize p10 synthesis in infected Lymantria dispar cells by using Western blots and immunofluorescent staining. The p10 protein was detected with immunofluorescent microscopy at 14 hr postinfection and by 20 hr it formed intensely staining cytoplasmic structures. On Western blots of infected cells, two forms of p10 (of about 14 and 15 kd) were observed. One of the p10 monoclonal antibodies showed a strong cross-reaction with cytoskeletal structures in uninfected insect cells and rat fibroblasts.

Location, transcription, and sequence of a baculovirus gene encoding a small arginine-rich polypeptide

The nucleotide sequence of the cDNA of an abundant late 0.5-kilobase transcript of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus revealed a small open reading frame encoding an arginine-rich 6.9-kilodalton protein. The predicted amino acid composition of the 6.9-kilodalton protein was essentially identical to that of the core protein of viral nucleocapsids. The precise location of the 5' and 3' ends of the transcript were confirmed by S1 nuclease and primer extension analyses. Multiple overlapping transcripts through this region include three early and three abundant late RNAs which are transcribed counterclockwise and one transient RNA which is transcribed clockwise with respect to the physical map of the virus.

Baculovirus transcription in the presence of inhibitors and in nonpermissive Drosophila cells

Regulation of transcription within four well-defined regions of the DNA genome of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) was studied in a permissive lepidopteran cell line. Spodoptera frugiperda IPLB-SF-21 and a nonpermissive dipteran cell line, Drosophila melanogaster DL-1. Cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, was used to identify immediate early transcripts and aphidicolin, an effective inhibitor of DNA replication, was used to distinguish early and late transcripts in S. frugiperda cells. Immediate early transcripts were identified in the HindIII-K (85 to 87.5%), the HindIII-I/EcoRI-F (I/F from 35 to 37%) and the HindIII-P/EcoRI-P (p10 from 88.5 to 89.5%) regions of the genome. Late RNAs, defined by their sensitivity to aphidicolin as well as cycloheximide, overlapped the immediate early RNAs. Specific viral transcripts were synthesized in nonpermissive D. melanogaster cells infected with AcNPV but late viral transcripts were not observed.

Variation in the temporal expression of overlapping baculovirus transcripts

To investigate gene expression from the Autographa californica nuclear polyhydrolysis virus genome (AcNPV), complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized from polyadenylated RNA transcribed at 2 h and 10 h postinfection (p.i.) and then cloned into Escherichia coli using plasmid pUC-9. Eighteen 2 h cDNA plasmids were homologous to five distinct regions of the viral genome, while forty-nine 10 h cDNA plasmids were homologous to 15 regions including the five regions transcribed at 2 h. Temporal expression of polyadenylated RNA transcribed from diverse regions of the genome was examined using Northern blot hybridization with the above 2 and 10 h cDNA probes. All regions displayed overlapping sets of RNAs. In addition to HindIII-I/EcoRI-F (IF) and HindIII-B2/EcoRI-H (B2H), several, but not all, regions showed a sequential appearance of higher molecular weight RNAs as the infection progressed. Each overlapping set of RNAs exhibited unique characteristics including variations in the number of overlapping transcripts, their temporal regulation, and their relative abundance during the course of infection.

Interspersed Homologous DNA of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Enhances Delayed-Early Gene Expression

The five regions of homologous DNA which are interspersed in the genome of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus increased the expression of a delayed-early gene of this virus. Although this activity was first observed as a 10-fold trans effect, the homologous region 5 ( hr 5) enhanced the expression of linked genes 1,000-fold. The hr 5 enhancer also exhibited the other characteristics associated with viral enhancer elements, including orientation independence and the abilities to function at a distance from the linked promoter, to regulate heterologous promoters, and to increase the number of RNA polymerase molecules transcribing the linked genes. The expression of the immediate-early regulatory gene was not enhanced by cis -linked hr 5, although the enhancer function may require the immediate-early regulatory gene product. The hr 5 enhancer was relatively insensitive to competition by an excess of enhancer molecules. The nucleotide sequence of hr 5 revealed two different conserved repeats separated by nonhomologous DNA. Deletion analysis of the hr 5 enhancer indicated that a 30-base-pair inverted repeat was essential for enhancer function.

Detection of sequences in Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus DNA, that acts as autonomous replicating sequences (ARS) in yeast. Brief report

At least two regions of Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV) DNA contain nucleotide sequences that allowed the autonomous replication of chimaeric plasmids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These sequences were located around position 26 and 37 per cent on the physical map of AcNPV DNA.

Nucleotide sequencing and transcriptional mapping of the Orgyia pseudotsugata multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus p10 gene

A 32P-labeled cloned DNA fragment (AcMNPV HindIII-Q) containing one of the repeated sequences and a portion of the p10 gene from Autographa californica multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) was used to probe Southern blots containing restriction endonuclease digests of Orgyia pseudotsugata muticapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) DNA. A single 3.6-kb fragment, OpMNPV HindIII-Q, was hybridized. The OpMNPV HindIII-Q fragment was cloned into pUC-18, mapped with restriction endonucleases, and reprobed with the AcMNPV HindIII-Q fragment. A small region of ca. 700 bp, near the left end of the cloned fragment, was cross-hybridized. DNA sequencing in this region revealed an open reading frame of 279 bp which shares detectable homology with the p10 gene of AcMNPV. The sequences downstream from the p10 gene in both viruses also contain long open reading frames which share homology. Northern blot analysis of RNA from OpMNPV infected O. leucostigma cells was used to define the temporal and spatial organization of transcripts from this region. S1 analysis of both termini of the major p10 mRNA indicates nontranslated regions of 52-53 bases at the 5' end and 175 bases at the 3' end. The 5'-mRNA start site was located within a 12-nucleotide sequence which is conserved in all late hyperexpressed baculovirus genes.

Cell-surface expression of influenza virus haemagglutinin in insect cells using a baculovirus vector

A baculovirus transfer vector was constructed using a cloned copy of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) polyhedrin gene. The ATG translation initiation codon and 32 bases of the polyhedrin mRNA 5' leader sequences were deleted and replaced with a cDNA clone of the A/PR/8/34 influenza virus haemagglutinin (HA) gene. The hybrid HA/polyhedrin gene was transferred to AcNPV and polyhedrin-negative recombinants identified which expressed HA activity. The insect cell-derived HA bound a monoclonal antibody specific for the HA gene in immunofluorescence tests and was shown to be plasma membrane-bound by haemadsorption assays. A 65 kDa protein was identified in infected cells by immunoprecipitation. The mRNA from recombinant-infected cells was analysed and revealed a major transcript of 2.95 kilobases consistent with transcription initiation and termination at the authentic polyhedrin sites. Other transcripts of different length were also detected so it was not possible to conclude which was responsible for producing the protein. The results demonstrated that AcNPV can be used to express plasma membrane-bound virus glycoproteins.

Changes in the nucleoprotein complexes of a baculovirus DNA during infection

The nature of the DNA-protein complexes assumed by Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) DNA during infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells was investigated by micrococcal nuclease digestion of infected nuclei. Both parental viral DNA and progeny viral DNA assumed a chromatin-like structure early in infection. By late times (24 hr) p.i., the viral DNA acquired a unique nucleoprotein structure. In addition to fragments of mononucleosome size (185 bp), two subnucleosomal bands of 120 and 90 bp were observed. The subnucleosomal bands contained exclusively viral DNA. No alteration in the nature of the host chromatin structure following AcNPV infection was observed. An examination of the basic chromatin-associated proteins revealed two major viral-induced proteins having molecular weights of 15K and 39K. The induction of the basic 15K protein between 10 and 24 hr p.i. coincided with the appearance of the altered nucleoprotein structure observed by 24 hr p.i. and the cessation of histone synthesis.

Physical mapping of temporally regulated, overlapping transcripts in the region of the 10K protein gene in Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus

We investigated transcriptional activity in the region of a gene for a major late protein (10 kilodaltons) of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus. This 10K protein gene spans an HindIII cleavage site, with the 5' end of the gene located in the HindIII-Q fragment and the 3' end in the HindIII-P fragment. Northern blot analysis showed that there were at least four transcripts mapping in this region, two that are present maximally at 12 h (1,500 and 1,100 bases in length) and two that are present at 24 h (750 and 2,500 bases in length). Northern blot analysis also suggested that these transcripts overlap. S1 mapping identified the precise positions of the transcripts and confirmed the overlap. The 1,500- and 1,100-base transcripts share a common 5' end, about 1,056 bases upstream from the HindIII-P-Q boundary; the 750- and 2,500-base transcripts share a common 5' end, about 303 bases upstream from the HindIII-P-Q boundary. The 1,100-base transcript terminates in the Q fragment, about 234 bases from the HindIII-P-Q boundary. The other three transcripts all end in the P fragment. Both the 1,500- and the 750-base transcripts terminate approximately 240 bases from the HindIII-P-Q boundary. The 2,500-base transcript exhibits 3'-end heterogeneity, ending around 2,046 bases from the HindIII-P-Q boundary. Therefore, three different transcripts (1,500, 750, and 2,500 bases in length) contain the complete 10K protein coding region. A fourth transcript (1,100 bases in length) overlaps the 750-base 10K protein gene transcript by 70 bases.

Polyhedrin gene of Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus

A portion of the genome of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Bombyx mori has been cloned. This part of the viral genome contains the gene encoding the viral occlusion body protein, polyhedrin. The polyhedrin gene has been sequenced in its entirety together with some of its 5' and 3' flanking sequences. The primary structure of polyhedrin predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the gene was found to be somewhat different from the one reported previously for the authentic protein (E. A. Kozlov, T. L. Levitina, N. M. Gusak, and S. B. Serebryani, Bioorg. Khim., 7:1008-1015, 1981; S. B. Serebryani, T. L. Levitina, M. L. Kautsman, Y. L. Radavski, N. M. Gusak, M. N. Ovander, N. V. Sucharenko, and E. A. Kozlov, J. Invertebr. Pathol., 30:442-443, 1977). Comparison of the primary structures of the polyhedrin of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus of B. mori with that of Autographa californica suggests that considerable selective pressure has been exercised at the protein level during evolution. Nucleotide sequence comparisons of the two structural genes reveal that the coding sequences have diverged significantly through the accumulation of silent and replacement substitutions. In contrast, a remarkable degree of sequence conservation was found to exist in the domains corresponding to the 5' and 3' noncoding regions of the polyhedrin mRNAs.

Size and map locations of early transcription products on the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome

The size classes and map locations of early transcripts of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus were identified by probing Northern blots with cloned viral DNA fragments. Twelve abundant and 30 minor transcripts were detected by 4 hr postinfection. There was an increase in the abundancy and number of virus-specific transcripts between 6 and 8 hr postinfection, coincident with the onset of DNA replication. The change in transcription pattern did not occur in cells infected at the nonpermissive temperature with a DNA-negative mutant indicating that these early transcripts were synthesized prior to the initiation of viral DNA replication. Two early transcripts, 4.6 and 1.1 kb, mapped to the genomic region of the temperature-sensitive lesion, between 60.1 and 62.0%.

Characterized full-length and truncated plasmid clones of the crystal protein of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 and their toxicity to Manduca sexta

Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-73 produces a crystal protein which is lethal to many lepidopteran larvae. The gene encoding this crystal protein has been isolated from a 75-kb plasmid and engineered into a recombinant Escherichia coli plasmid for analysis. The complete nucleotide sequences of the coding region and 387-bp 5' and 376-bp 3' to the coding region have been determined. The 3537-bp of the coding region specify a protein of Mr 133 330. The full-length gene and several 3' -truncated derivatives of the gene were examined in both E. coli and in an E. coli minicell-expression system to determine if the carboxy end of the protein is essential for toxicity. The results presented here provide the primary structure of the crystal protein gene and show that the N-terminal 68-kDal peptide is toxic, but at a lower level than the full-length gene product.

Transcription of overlapping sets of RNAs from the genome of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus: a novel method for mapping RNAs

The insect baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) contains a double-stranded, supercoiled circular genome of 126 to 129 kilobase pairs in length. In cultured Spodoptera frugiperda insect cells the virus replications, and early and late phases of viral genome expression are discernible. We previously mapped 5 early and at least 32 late different viral polypeptides on the viral genome (H. Esche, H. Lübbert, B. Siegmann, and W. Doerfler, EMBO J. 1:1629-1633, 1982). However, at the same time we located 11 early and more than 90 late different size-classes of viral RNA on the AcNPV genome. Evidence for extensive RNA splicing in this virus system has not been adduced, although tiny splices cannot yet be ruled out (H. Lübbert and W. Doerfler, J. Virol. 50:497-506, 1984). The large number of AcNPV transcripts and the apparent lack of splicing have raised tantalizing questions about the mechanisms involved in the expression of AcNPV DNA and its regulation. It is also unknown how the widely differing numbers of RNAs and polypeptides can be correlated. For this reason, we have started to analyze in detail the map locations of some of the RNA size-classes in three different segments of the viral genome. For this purpose a novel method has been devised which will prove useful for the analyses of transcriptional patterns in complex viral genomes. The EcoRI fragments J, O through F, and Q, comprising viral DNA segments between 81.8 and 86.4, 32.6 and 41.0, and 88.2 and 89.7 map units, respectively, were investigated. Surprisingly, overlapping sets of viral RNAs of various lengths and with apparently common 3' termini in EcoRI fragments J (seven size-classes) and O through F (four size-classes) or with common 5' termini in EcoRI fragment Q (two size-classes) have been detected. At present, the functional significance of this mode of transcription is unknown. EcoRI fragment Q of AcNPV DNA encodes a 10,000-molecular-weight polypeptide which is expressed abundantly late after infection. The function of this protein has not yet been elucidated. The promoter and 5' part of the gene for the 10,000-molecular-weight polypeptide have been sequenced, and we have shown that at least two RNAs of different lengths are transcribed in this region and initiated at one site of three nucleotides. Studies on the expression of the AcNPV genome have revealed interesting properties not commonly found in other eucaryotic systems.

Strong and regulated expression of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase in insect cells with a baculovirus vector

The N-terminal region of the gene encoding polyhedrin, the major occlusion protein of the insect baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV), has been fused to DNA encoding Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase. The fused gene was inserted into the AcNPV DNA genome by cotransfection of insect cells with recombinant plasmid DNA and wild-type AcNPV genomic DNA. Recombinant viruses were selected as blue plaques in the presence of a beta-galactosidase indicator, 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside. Studies of one such virus, L1GP-gal3, indicated that the synthesis of beta-galactosidase is temporally controlled beginning late (20 h) in infection after the release of infectious virus particles from the cell. By 48 h postinfection, a remarkably high level of expression is achieved. On the basis of these results, AcNPV should be a useful vector for the stable propagation and expression of passenger genes in a lepidopteran cell background. A generalized transplacement vector that facilitates the construction and selection of recombinant viruses carrying passenger genes under their own promoter control has also been developed.