CHARACTERIZATION OF THE AFRICAN SWINE FEVER VIRUS STRUCTURAL PROTEIN P14.5 - A DNA-BINDING PROTEIN

The gene encoding the structural protein p14.5 of African swine fever virus (ASFV) has been mapped and sequenced. This gene, designated E120 R, is located in the San H/EcoRI E restriction fragment of the ASFV ge nome and is predicted to encode a protein of 120 amino acids with a mo lecular weight of 13.4 kDa. Northern-blot analysis showed that E120R i s transcribed at late times during the viral replication cycle. The E1 20R gene product has been expressed in Escherichia coil, purified, and used as an antigen for antibody production. The antiserum anti-pE-120 R recognized a protein in infected cell extracts with an apparent mole cular mass of 14.5 kDa, named p14.5. This antiserum also detected prot ein p14.5 in purified virus particles. Protein p14.5 is synthesized la te in infection and is located in viral factories. Immunoprecipitation analysis and binding-assay experiments have shown that protein p14.5 interacts with a protein that could correspond to the major structural protein p72. Purified protein p14.5 interacts with DNA in a sequence- independent manner. It binds to both single-stranded and double-strand ed DNA A possible role of protein p14.5 in the encapsidation of ASN DN A is suggested. (C) 1997 Academic Press.