Dj. Mcmillan et al., CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PROTEINASE SPECIFIED BY VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS GENE-33, Journal of General Virology, 78, 1997, pp. 2153-2157
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) genes 33 and 33.5 are predicted to encode
the VZV proteinase and its substrate (the assembly protein) respectiv
ely. These genes were expressed in insect cells using recombinant bacu
lovirus and it was confirmed that gene 33 encodes a proteinase capable
of autoproteolytic processing at two positions. When VZV gene 33.5 wa
s co-expressed with the VZV proteinase, processing of the VZV33.5 gene
product was observed. A polyclonal antiserum to the VZV assembly prot
ein domain highlighted a set of proteins in VZV infected HEL cells ide
ntical to those identified in insect cells expressing VZV genes 33 and
33.5. To facilitate further characterization of the VZV proteinase th
e enzyme was purified by affinity chromatography from an E. coil expre
ssion system and in vitro activity was observed.