Production of polyomavirus structural protein VP1 in yeast cells and its interaction with cell structures

The gene for mouse polyomavirus major structural protein VP1 was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae from the inducible GAL7 promoter. VP1 pseudocap sids were purified from cell lysates, Their subpopulation contained fragmen ts of host DNA, which, in contrast to those of VP1 pseudocapsids produced i n insect cells, did not assemble with cellular histones into pseudonucleoco res, VP1 pseudocapsids accumulated in the yeast cell nuclei. A strong inter action of VP1 with tubulin fibres of the mitotic spindle was observed, The fibres of spindles were larger in diameter, apparently due to tight VP1 bin ding. Substantial growth inhibition of yeast cells producing VP1 was observ ed. (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies, Published by Els evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.