SUPERIOR EXPRESSION OF JUVENILE-HORMONE ESTERASE AND BETA-GALACTOSIDASE FROM THE BASIC-PROTEIN PROMOTER OF AUTOGRAPHA-CALIFORNICA NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS-VIRUS COMPARED TO THE P10 PROTEIN AND POLYHEDRIN PROMOTERS

The expression characteristics of the p10, polyhedrin and basic protei n promoters of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus were compared using two reporter enzymes, juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) a nd beta-galactosidase. In these systems, JHE is exported from the cell and and beta-galactosidase is localized to the cytosol. Expression of JHE from the basic, p10 and polyhedrin promoters was first detected i n the medium at 13, 19 and 27 h post-infection respectively. The basic protein promoter yielded the highest expression of the three promoter s tested for both enzymes, as determined by protein and enzyme activit y assays. In addition, yields of beta-galactosidase and JHE under cont rol of the p10 promoter are higher relative to expression under contro l of the polyhedrin promoter. These data highlight the importance of i nvestigation of viral promoters other than the polyhedrin promoter for high yield protein expression in vitro, and for insecticidal use of r ecombinant baculoviruses requiring high levels of expression. The resu lts support revision of the current concept that very late viral promo ters are always optimal for high yield recombinant protein expression.