ASSEMBLY OF JC VIRUS-LIKE PARTICLES IN COS7 CELLS

JC virus lacks an appropriate cell line to support virus replication. The establishment of a JC pseudovirus assembly system could play an al ternative role for a virus culture system. COS7 cells and a transfer v ector, pcDL-SR alpha 296, were used to express JC viral structural gen es. VP231-SR alpha, which encodes VP2/VP3 and VP1, but lacks 137 bp of the 5'-terminus of agnogene, showed both efficient nuclear migration and quantitative expression of the major capsid protein VP1. JC pseudo virus assembly was observed in the nucleus of VP231-SR alpha transfect ed cells. Evidence of JC pseudovirus assembly is presented. The furthe r utilization of this system, which includes a study for the viral mor phogenesis, serological diagnosis, as well as the potential applicatio n for gene transfer vector, is discussed. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.