Identification and DNA Sequence Analysis of the Marek’s Disease Virus Serotype 2 Genes Homologous to the Thymidine Kinase and UL24 Genes of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1

摘要: The thymidine kinase (TK) gene has been used as a safe and convenient locus for expression of heterologous proteins in some alphaherpesviruses including herpesvirus turkeys (HVT) antigenically related to Marek’s disease virus (MDV) serotypes 1 (MDV1) 2 (MDV2). In MDV2 strain HPRS 24 genome, genes equivalent the TK UL24 homologues herpes simplex type were identified sequenced. overlaps 5′ end head-to-head orientation. predicted region encoding is 1,056 nucleotides, corresponding polypeptide 352 amino acids length. Putative nucleotide- thymidine-binding sites within acid sequence. 948 316 By northern blot analyses using TK- UL24-specific DNA probes, four transcripts approximately 7.8, 5.0, 3.5, 1.1 kb gene, transcript 3.8 detected MDV2-infected cells. Alignment sequence homologue with those published other MDV showed 73.9% (MDV1 vs. MDV2), 58.2% HVT), 56.8% (MDV2 HVT) identities. Comparison alphaherpesvirus revealed homologies varying from 34.5% 27.8%. putative homologous protein had identity well conserved five motifs among alphaherpesviruses.