Kinetics of transcription of human cytomegalovirus chemokine receptor US28in different cell types

In permissive cells, human cytomegalovirus encodes the protein US28, a func tional CC chemokine receptor. US28 polyadenylated mRNA could be detected by RT-PCR as early as 2 h post-infection. US28 mRNA appeared after major IE1 transcripts (UL123), but before transcripts of the early genes pp65 (UL83) and gB (UL55), and the late gene pp150 (UL32). This temporal appearance ind icates that US28 is transcribed earlier than previously reported. Furthermo re, US28 mRNA could be detected in semi- and non-permissive cells.