The structural and functional organization of the autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome

Abstract

Baculoviruses are used as biological control agents of insect pests in agriculture and forestry. The multiple-nucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Autographa californica (AcMNPV) is the prototype baculovirus. Recently, this virus has become widely used as vector for the high-level expression of foreign genes in insect cells. An updated physical map of restriction sites as well as the location of open reading frames (ORFs) and transcripts are presented. Most characteristic is the dispersal of "early", "late", and "very late" genes over the genome and the presence of nested sets of 3' and 5' coterminal transcripts.

Sequence analysis of the genome of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus.

“…Of these, seven ORFs also possessed a late gene promoter motif, which may allow transcription of these genes during both early and late stages of infection, as has been reported for Ac128 (gp64) and Ac147 (ie-1) (Kool & Vlak, 1993 ;O'Reilly et al, 1994). Seventy-eight BmNPV ORFs possessed a consensus late gene promoter motif within 160 bp of the initiation codon.…”

“…Twelve BmNPV ORFs possessed a consensus early gene promoter motif (a TATA box followed by a CAGT motif 20-25 bp downstream) within 180 bp (see Kool & Vlak, 1993) of the initiation codon (Table 1). Of these, seven ORFs also possessed a late gene promoter motif, which may allow transcription of these genes during both early and late stages of infection, as has been reported for Ac128 (gp64) and Ac147 (ie-1) (Kool & Vlak, 1993 ;O'Reilly et al, 1994).…”

Genomic and host range studies of Maruca vitrata nucleopolyhedrovirus

“…Seventy-seven MaviNPV ORFs possess a consensus late gene promoter motif within 120 bp of the initiation codon. A CGTGC motif has also been identified as an early promoter consensus sequence/transcription initiation site (enhancer-like element) in AcMNPV Ac40 (p47), Ac65 (DNA-pol) and Ac95 (helicase) (see Kool & Vlak, 1993). A CGTGC motif was found within 210 bp of the initiation codon of 28 MaviNPV ORFs (Table 1).…”

“…Thirty-one of the MaviNPV ORFs did not possess consensus late or early promoter sequences. It seems likely that additional, as-yet-unidentified, promoter sequences might exist within the MaviNPV genome, as they do in other baculoviruses (Kool & Vlak, 1993;O'Reilly et al, 1994a).…”

“…Sixteen MaviNPV ORFs possess a consensus early gene promoter motif (a TATA box followed by a CAGT motif 20-30 bp downstream) within 180 bp (Kool & Vlak, 1993;Xing et al, 2005) of the initiation codon (Table 1). Of these, nine ORFs, including Mv1 (polh), Mv14 (efp/ld130), Mv25 (39K), Mv42 (ac56), Mv66 (p95), Mv89 (pif-3), Mv97 (gp64), Mv107 (me53) and Mv109 (ie-0), also possess a late gene promoter motif (A/T/GTAAG), which may allow transcription of these genes during both early and late stages of infection, which has also been reported for Ac128 (gp64) and Ac147 (ie-1) (Kool & Vlak, 1993;O'Reilly et al, 1994a). Although the early gene promoter motif is present in the MaviNPV polh, mRNA was not detectable at the early stage of infection (data not shown).…”