The major immediate-early genes of human cytomegalovirus induce two novel proteins with molecular weights of 91 and 102 kilodaltons

Mouse monoclonal antibody MAB 810 is known to recognize the major immediate -early (IE) proteins, 68 kDa IE1 (IE1p68) and 80 kDa LE2 (IE2p80), of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Using this antibody we found that two additional p roteins with higher molecular weights of approximately 91 (p91) and 102 kDa (p 102) are also synthesized in HCMV-infected cells. p91 and p102 were pro duced in cells stably transfected with plasmid expressing IE1p68 and IE2p80 , respectively, and shown to be related with IE1p68 and IE2p80, respectivel y, in primary amino acid sequence. Taken together, these results indicate t hat p91 and p102 are expressed from the LE1 and IE2 genes, respectively.