The Protamine-like DNA-binding Protein P6.9 Epigenetically Up-regulates Autographa californica Multiple Nucleopolyhedrovirus Gene Transcription in the Late Infection Phase  

作　　者：Ying Peng Kun Li Rong-juan Pei Chun-chen Wu Chang-yong Liang Yun Wang Xin-wen Chen 

机构地区：[1]Key Laboratory of Agricultural&Environmental Microbiology,Wuhan Institute of Virology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Wuhan 430071,China [2]Skate Key Laboratory of Virology,Wuhan Institute of Virology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Wuhan 430071,China [3]College of Bioscience and Biotechnology,Yangzhou University,Yangzhou 225000,China

出　　处：《Virologica Sinica》2012年第1期57-68,共12页中国病毒学（英文版）

基　　金：the National Nature Science Foundations of China(31030027,30400271),the National Natural Science Foundations of China for Young Scholars(31000081)

摘　　要：Protamines are a group of highly basic proteins first discovered in spermatozoon that allow for denser packaging of DNA than histones and will result in down-regulation of gene transcription^l~. It is well recognized that the Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus （AcMNPV） encodes P6.9, a protamine-like protein that forms the viral subnucleosome through binding to the viral genome[29]. Previous research demonstrates that P6.9 is essential for viral nucleocapsid assembly, while it has no influence on viral genome replication1311. In the present study, the role of P6.9 in viral gene transcription regulation is characterized. In contrast to protamines or other protamine-like proteins that usually down-regulate gene transcription, P6.9 appears to up-regulate viral gene transcription at 12-24 hours post infection （hpi）, whereas it is non-essential for the basal level of viral gene transcription. Fluorescence microscopy reveals the P6.9＇s co-localization with DNA is temporally and spatially synchronized with P6.9＇s impact on viral gene transcription, indicating the P6.9-DNA association contributes to transcription regulation. Chromatin fractionation assay further reveals an unexpected co-existence of P6.9 and host RNA polymerase II in the same transcriptionally active chromatin fraction at 24 hpi, which may probably contribute to viral gene transcription up-regulation in the late infection phase.Protamines are a group of highly basic proteins first discovered in spermatozoon that allow for denser packaging of DNA than histones and will result in down-regulation of gene transcription[1]. It is well recognized that the Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) encodes P6.9, a protamine-like protein that forms the viral subnucleosome through binding to the viral genome[29]. Previous research demonstrates that P6.9 is essential for viral nucleocapsid assembly, while it has no influence on viral genome replication[31]. In the present study, the role of P6.9 in viral gene transcription regulation is characterized. In contrast to protamines or other protamine-like proteins that usually down-regulate gene transcription, P6.9 appears to up-regulate viral gene transcription at 12-24 hours post infection (hpi), whereas it is non-essential for the basal level of viral gene transcription. Fluorescence microscopy reveals the P6.9's co-localization with DNA is temporally and spatially synchronized with P6.9's impact on viral gene transcription, indicating the P6.9-DNA association contributes to transcription regulation. Chromatin fractionation assay further reveals an unexpected co-existence of P6.9 and host RNA polymerase II in the same transcriptionally active chromatin fraction at 24 hpi, which may probably contribute to viral gene transcription up-regulation in the late infection phase.

关 键 词：EPIGENETICS ACMNPV P6.9 PROTAMINE Subnucleosome 

分 类 号：Q513.1[生物学—生物化学] S476.13[农业科学—农业昆虫与害虫防治]