小卷蛾斯氏线虫侵染对草地贪夜蛾幼虫天然免疫反应的影响

【目的】探讨昆虫病原线虫小卷蛾斯氏线虫Steinernema carpocapsae All侵染对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda幼虫天然免疫反应的影响。【方法】借助倒置显微镜观察和鉴定草地贪夜蛾幼虫的血细胞类型,并对小卷蛾斯氏线虫侵染后不同时间的草地贪夜蛾幼虫血细胞总数目进行统计;通过倒置显微镜观察草地贪夜蛾幼虫对侵入的小卷蛾斯氏线虫的包囊反应;利用倒置荧光显微镜观察小卷蛾斯氏线虫侵染后的草地贪夜蛾幼虫血细胞对金黄色葡萄球菌Staphylococcus aureus的吞噬活性;检测小卷蛾斯氏线虫侵染后的草地贪夜蛾幼虫血淋巴中酚氧化酶(phenoloxidase, PO)活性、体内抗菌肽基因相对表达水平以及血浆的抗菌活性。【结果】从草地贪夜蛾幼虫体内共发现5种不同类型的血细胞,分别为原血细胞、粒细胞、类绛色细胞、珠血细胞和浆血细胞。注射1 μL侵染期(infective juveniles, IJs)小卷蛾斯氏线虫(3 IJs/μL)后9和12 h,草地贪夜蛾幼虫的血细胞总数目显著增多。草地贪夜蛾幼虫的血细胞不能包囊活的以及冷处死的小卷蛾斯氏线虫,但可以包囊热处死的线虫。活的小卷蛾斯氏线虫会显著抑制草地贪夜蛾幼虫血细胞对金黄色葡萄球菌的吞噬活性,但冷处死和热处死的线虫不能。注射1 μL(3 IJs/μL)小卷蛾斯氏线虫后,草地贪夜蛾幼虫血淋巴PO活性总体呈“下降 升高 下降”变化趋势;体内抗菌肽基因Attacin-A2, Attacin-B1, Cecropin-B3, Cecropin-D, Gallerimycin, Gloverin-3以及Lebocin-2的表达水平在线虫侵染后12 h时显著上调,24 h时恢复到对照水平或低于对照水平;血淋巴抗菌活性水平在小卷蛾斯氏线虫侵染后12 h时显著升高,24 h时与对照无显著差异。【结论】小卷蛾斯氏线虫在侵入早期会抑制草地贪夜蛾幼虫的天然免疫反应来建立感染;随后草地贪夜蛾的免疫系统会被激活试图抵御小卷蛾斯氏线虫的侵染;后期随着线虫的成功定殖,草地贪夜蛾的免疫系统最终被抑制或破坏。本研究所得结果为进一步揭示线虫 草地贪夜蛾的免疫互作机理奠定了基础,也为改善昆虫病原线虫对草地贪夜蛾的防治效果提供了理论依据。     

利用杆状病毒表达系统表达金鱼生长激素I基因

以不含起始密码ATG的质粒Psxivvi⁺X3为转移载体,将编码金鱼生长激素I的Cdna插入粉纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒(TnNPV)基因组中,构建了形成多角体的重组病毒株TnNPV—SX⁺gfGHl21a。该毒株能利用合成多角体XIV串联启动子,在重组病毒感染的草地贪夜蛾(Spodoptera frugiperda,Sf)昆虫细胞及银纹夜蛾幼虫中表达金鱼生长激素I基因。感染离体细胞及虫俸后的蛋白SDS聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳表明．所表达的蛋白分子量为22．5kDa,与理论计算值相符。Westem印迹证实。金鱼生长激素特异蛋白得到表达。     

斜纹夜蛾spli caspase-1部分基因的克隆与分析

紫外线、芹菜夜蛾核型多角体病毒(sfMNPV)和苜蓿银纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒(AcMNPV)都可诱导斜纹夜蛾(Spodoptera littoralis)SL-1细胞凋亡,这说明在SL-1细胞中Caspase表达活性高,本实验从莲纹夜蛾(Spodoptera littoralis)和草地贪夜蛾(Spodoptera frugiperda)序列出发,根据其中保守性高的序列设计引物,提取SL-1细胞中的总RNA,并进行逆转录和PCR扩增,获得了一条419bp的cDNA。     

苜蓿银纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒在宿主草地贪夜蛾选择压力下的毒力和基因变异

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith)原产北美,现已入侵中国许多地区,造成了巨大的生态和经济损失.杆状病毒是多种昆虫的病原体,对非目标生物无毒无害,是很有应用前景的生物农药,其施用可大大减缓草地贪夜蛾对化学农药抗性产生速度.以往的研究发现,虽然苜蓿银纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒(Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus,AcMNPV)可感染许多种鳞翅目昆虫,但对草地贪夜蛾口服感染能力较差.选择毒力增强的变异体是提高AcMNPV作为病毒杀虫剂应用的一个新方向.在本研究中,使用野生型AcMNPV在草地贪夜蛾2龄末幼虫中连续传代20次,并对亲本和后代分离株的毒力进行了评价.与野生型AcMNPV相比,后代分离株对草地贪夜蛾2龄末幼虫毒力显著提高.由于病毒的复制依赖于宿主细胞,受到草地贪夜蛾选择压力的影响,AcMNPV的基因发生变异.宿主适应性强的毒株在草地贪夜蛾体内的感染增殖能力较强,容易获得生长优势并成为优势毒株.更进一步,本研究通过二代测序分析了突变的关键基因.本研究可为生物农药生产提供高毒力毒株,也可在草地贪夜蛾应急防控和持续防控中发挥重要作用.     

乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的毒力及对其解毒酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶活性的影响

【目的】为了研究乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda幼虫的毒力及作用机制。【方法】以氯虫苯甲酰胺为对照,采用表面涂抹法测定了乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾2, 3和4龄幼虫的LC_(50)和LC_(90)。采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA),测定不同浓度乙基多杀菌素(0.127, 0.183, 0.250, 0.400和0.572 mg/L)处理48 h后草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫体内多功能氧化酶(MFO)、谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)、羧酸酯酶(CarE)以及乙酰胆碱酯酶(AchE)的活性。【结果】与氯虫苯甲酰胺相比,乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾幼虫具有更高的毒力,处理48 h后对2, 3和4龄幼虫的LC_(50)值分别为0.21, 0.34和0.59 mg/L, LC_(90)值分别为0.59, 0.75和2.01 mg/L。经过乙基多杀菌素处理后,草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫体内MFO和AchE活性均表现随着浓度的增加而显著增加,二者均在0.572 mg/L处理时活性最高,分别为52.23和23.98 U/mg pro; CarE活性在低浓度乙基多杀菌素处理(0.127和0.183 mg/L)下相对于溶剂对照(0.1%Tween-80)无显著变化,随着浓度增加至0.400与0.572 mg/L时,其活性显著增加; GST活性表现为随着乙基多杀菌素浓度增加而增加的特点,当处理浓度为0.400与0.572 mg/L时,其活性无显著性差异。【结论】乙基多杀菌素对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的杀虫效果优于氯虫苯甲酰胺,尤其对4龄幼虫效果最为明显;在不同浓度的乙基多杀菌素处理条件下,草地贪夜蛾幼虫体内的CarE, MFO和AchE活性有所增高。     

镉胁迫对草地贪夜蛾生长发育及松毛虫赤眼蜂寄生的影响

【目的】为探究镉胁迫对植食性昆虫草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的影响以及是否通过“bottom-up”级联效应影响赤眼蜂Trichogramma的寄生能力。【方法】在室内调查了孵化24 h内的草地贪夜蛾幼虫取食添加了不同浓度(0,0.2和51.2 mg/kg)Cd²⁺的饲料后,草地贪夜蛾生长发育和繁殖力(单雌产卵量)和子一代卵内镉含量,并调查了松毛虫赤眼蜂T.dendrolimi成蜂对低浓度(0.2 mg/kg) Cd²⁺胁迫的草地贪夜蛾卵的寄生能力及偏好性。【结果】与对照(正常人工饲料)相比,人工饲料中0.2和51.2 mg/kg Cd²⁺均导致草地贪夜蛾幼虫历期显著延长、雌蛹重显著降低;高浓度(51.2 mg/kg)Cd²⁺处理下草地贪夜蛾的化蛹率、成虫羽化率、成虫寿命和单雌产卵量均显著降低;而低浓度(0.2 mg/kg)Cd²⁺处理下草地贪夜蛾的单雌产卵量略高于对照,且低浓度Cd²⁺胁迫下草地贪夜蛾卵的镉含量为1.03 mg/k...     

淡足侧沟茧蜂寄生对草地贪夜蛾幼虫血淋巴黑化反应及酚氧化酶的影响

【目的】明确淡足侧沟茧蜂Microplitis pallidipes寄生对草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda血淋巴黑化率、酚氧化酶原（Prophenoloxidase,PPO）基因表达量和酚氧化酶（Phenoloxidase,PO）活性的影响,为更有效的利用淡足侧沟茧蜂防控草地贪夜蛾提供理论依据。【方法】通过室内寄生实验确定草地贪夜蛾被淡足侧沟茧蜂寄生的最佳龄期;通过RT-qPCR分析草地贪夜蛾两个PPO基因（SfPPO1和SfPPO2）的时空表达谱;通过薄膜法统计草地贪夜蛾被寄生后的血淋巴黑化率;采用吸光光度法测定草地贪夜蛾被寄生后的血淋巴PO活性;采用RT-qPCR测定草地贪夜蛾被寄生后血淋巴SfPPO1和SfPPO2的相对基因表达量。【结果】草地贪夜蛾被淡足侧沟茧蜂寄生的最佳龄期为3龄幼虫,SfPPO1和SfPPO2均在卵块和4龄幼虫中基因表达量较高,且主要在幼虫血淋巴中表达。草地贪夜蛾被寄生后12、24、48和72 h的血淋巴黑化率显著低于未寄生组（P<0.05）,SfPPO1和SfPPO2的相对基因表达量和PO活性也低于未寄生组。相关关系分析表明,SfPPO1的相对基因表达量与SfPPO2的表达量呈现线性关系（R2=0.9124）,PO活性与两个PPO基因相对表达量之间、黑化率与PO活性和PPO基因相对表达量之间均呈现正相关。【结论】淡足侧沟茧蜂寄生会抑制草地贪夜蛾血淋巴的黑化率,下调血淋巴中酚氧化酶原基因的表达量和PO活性,且PO活性、PPO基因相对表达量及血淋巴黑化率3个指标之中,两两之间均呈现正相关性。     

3种拟除虫菊酯类农药对草地贪夜蛾的毒力测定及田间应用效果评价

评价使用氟氯氰菊酯、溴氰菊酯、高效氯氟氰菊酯喷雾和喇叭口点施处理对草地贪夜蛾的活性与防效,为草地贪夜蛾综合防控提供技术支持。采用喷雾法测定了3种农药原药对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫毒力;采用喷雾和喇叭口点施2种方式田间施用5.7%氟氯氰菊酯乳油、25 g/L溴氰菊酯乳油、5.0%高效氯氟氰菊酯乳油,药后第1天、第3天、第7天调查挂牌标记玉米上草地贪夜蛾活虫数,计算防治效果。3种拟除虫菊酯农药对草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫LC 50值大小顺序依次为氟氯氰菊酯(29.80 mg/L)<高效氯氟氰菊酯(42.39 mg/L)<溴氰菊酯(49.88 mg/L);3种拟除虫菊酯类农药在54.00 g a.i./ha剂量下均能明显降低草地贪夜蛾田间虫口数量,同等剂量防效氟氯氰菊酯乳油>高效氯氟氰菊酯乳油>溴氰菊酯微乳剂。由于草地贪夜蛾低龄幼虫和高龄幼虫取食部位有差异,喷雾法防治低龄幼虫的效果好,喇叭口点施防治高龄幼虫的效果好。拟除虫菊酯类农药对草地贪夜蛾具有较好的防治效果,喇叭口点施方式节省药剂、提高对高龄幼虫的防效,在防治草地贪夜蛾等害虫方面具有广阔的应用前景。     

广东省草地贪夜蛾冬季发生特征及周年繁殖区域研究

广东省是草地贪夜蛾入侵我国的桥头堡和主要的北迁虫源地之一,明确该虫在广东省的冬季发生特征及越冬存活情况,对广东省乃至全国草地贪夜蛾的预测预报及源头治理意义重大。为准确掌握广东省草地贪夜蛾的周年繁殖区范围及冬季发生为害情况,2020年1-3月在粤东、粤西、粤北及珠三角地区,利用成虫性诱、挖土查蛹、幼虫密度及植株为害率普查等方法,分析广东省草地贪夜蛾冬前、冬后种群发生为害情况及冬季发生特征。调查结果表明:(1)广东省冬玉米种植区主要分布在湛江、茂名、阳江、惠州等地,冬玉米种植区均发现草地贪夜蛾幼虫为害,主要为害冬玉米,极少为害甘蔗;(2)不同地区冬种玉米上草地贪夜蛾的发生程度差异较大,湛江、茂名、阳江发生为害较为严重,平均为害率30%左右,而珠三角及粤东地区发生较轻,为害率低于10%;较冬前调查,冬后草地贪夜蛾发生量和为害程度出现不同程度的下降;(3)广东省大部分地区的冬种玉米田和空闲地均可持续诱捕到草地贪夜蛾成虫,而挖土调查发现草地贪夜蛾蛹密度较低。本调查明确了草地贪夜蛾在北回归线以南的冬玉米区可以周年繁殖,无明显的滞育越冬现象,粤西茂名、阳江以南至雷州半岛一带为典型冬种玉米区,草地贪夜蛾发生为害较为严重,珠三角及粤东大部分地区草地贪夜蛾种群数量相对较低,调查结果为广东省乃至全国草地贪夜蛾的早期预警和精准防控提供了重要参考。     

草地贪夜蛾幼虫在玉米和小麦上的取食和生长发育特性比较

【目的】评估草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda转移至小麦上为害和暴发的风险。【方法】采用室内饲养观察与调查统计的方法,测定和比较了23℃下草地贪夜蛾在玉米和小麦上的取食和生长发育特性及种群生命表参数。【结果】草地贪夜蛾在小麦上可以完成世代,其3龄后幼虫取食小麦的取食量及体重指标显著地高于同处理后时间在玉米上取食的;而食物利用效率、幼虫存活率、幼虫发育历期、卵孵化率均显著低于取食玉米的。取食玉米和取食小麦的草地贪夜蛾的平均蛹重、产卵前期、单雌产卵量等指标间无显著差异。另外,生命表参数比较结果表明,取食玉米和取食小麦的草地贪夜蛾的平均世代周期(T)、内禀增长率(r_m)和周限增长率(λ)间均无显著差异,取食玉米的草地贪夜蛾的净增殖率(R_0)为303.55±2.04,显著高于取食小麦的。【结论】草地贪夜蛾取食小麦时,生长发育速度快,能够完成世代生活史,但其食物利用效率、种群繁殖能力等却均低于取食玉米时,说明草地贪夜蛾更适宜在玉米上取食为害,存在转移至小麦为害的风险,但考虑到虫源、自然温度等条件,草地贪夜蛾在小麦上暴发的风险较小。本研究结果为明确草地贪夜蛾在小麦上为害和暴发的风险以及草地贪夜蛾的科学防控提供了理论依据。     

鸡传染性支气管炎病毒S1基因在昆虫细胞中表达水平初探

将含有鸡传染性支气管炎病毒 Ｓ１ 基因ｃ Ｄ Ｎ Ａ 的重组转移质粒ｐ Ｓ Ｘ Ｉ Ｖ Ｖ Ｉ＋ Ｘ３ Ｓ１ ． Ｈｏｌｔｅ 和ｐ Ｓ Ｘ Ｉ Ｖ Ｖ Ｉ＋ Ｘ３／４ Ｓ１ ． Ｈｏｌｔｅ 分别与粉纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒 Ｔｎ Ｎ Ｐ Ｖ Ｓ Ｖ Ｉ－ Ｇ Ｄ Ｎ Ａ（ Ｏ Ｃ Ｃ－ ,ｇａｌ＋ ） 共转染草地夜蛾（ Ｓｆ９） 细胞,经空斑纯化得到重组病毒 Ｔｎ Ｎ Ｐ Ｖ（ Ｘ３） Ｓ１ ． Ｈｏｌｔｅ Ｏ Ｃ Ｃ＋ 和 Ｔｎ Ｎ Ｐ Ｖ（ Ｘ３／４） Ｓ１ ． Ｈｏｌｔｅ Ｏ Ｃ Ｃ＋ 。将重组毒株分别感染 Ｔｎ５ Ｂ１ 细胞,并进行 Ｓ Ｄ Ｓ Ｐ Ａ Ｇ Ｅ 与 Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ 检测。结果表明, Ｔｎ Ｎ Ｐ Ｖ（ Ｘ３／４） Ｓ１ ． Ｈｏｌｔｅ Ｏ Ｃ Ｃ＋ 在感染的细胞中高效表达了 Ｓ１ 蛋白, Ｓ Ｄ Ｓ Ｐ Ａ Ｇ Ｅ 凝胶薄层色谱分析结果显示,感染病毒后７２ ｈ Ｓ１ 蛋白的表达量占细胞内总蛋白量的３５ ．８ ％ ,而 Ｔｎ Ｎ Ｐ Ｖ（ Ｘ３） Ｓ１ ． Ｈｏｌｔｅ Ｏ Ｃ Ｃ＋ 感染的细胞内检测不出 Ｓ１ 蛋白。经分析认为这一差异主要来自 Ｓ１ 基因翻译起始位点及其附近的周围环境。     

Characterization of pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside kinase (thymidine kinase) and thymidylate kinase as a multifunctional enzyme in cells transformed by herpes simplex virus type 1 and in cells infected with mutant strains of herpes simplex virus.

Pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside kinase (thymidine kinase [TK]) was purified from two herpes simplex virus type 1 (HVS-1)-transformed TK-deficient mouse (LMTK-) cell lines and from LMTK- cells infected with HSV-1 mutant viruses coding for variant TK enzymes. These preparations exhibited normal or variant virus-induced thymidylate kinase activities correlating with their relative TK activities. Neither virus-induced activity was detected in LMTK- cells infected with an HSV-1 TK-deficient mutant. These results suggest that HSV-1 thymidylate kinase activity and TK activity are mediated by the same protein.     

Transfer of Thymidine Kinase to Thymidine Kinaseless L Cells by Infection with Ultraviolet-Irradiated Herpes Simplex Virus

L cells lacking thymidine kinase (TK) activity (Ltk(-) cells) have been stably transformed to a TK-positive phenotype by infection with ultraviolet-irradiated herpes simplex virus (HSV-UV). The highest frequency of the Ltk(-) to Ltk(+) transformation observed in these experiments was approximately 10(-3), whereas no measurable transformation was observed (less than 10(-8)) in the absence of HSV-UV infection. Cell lines of HSV-transformed Ltk(+) cell lines contain 7 to 24 times as much TK activity as do the parental Ltk(-) cells, and they have been maintained in culture for a period exceeding 8 months. The kinetics of thermal inactivation of the TK activity derived from an Ltk(+) HSV-transformed cell line and the TK activity from Ltk(-) cells lytically infected with infectious HSV are similar. Both of these TK activities are much more thermolabile than the TK activity present in wild-type L cells. A mutant strain of HSV which does not induce TK activity during lytic infection does not cause the Ltk(-) to Ltk(+) transformation. These data suggest that either an HSV TK gene has been transferred to Ltk(-) cells or that an HSV gene product has caused the expression of a previously repressed cellular enzyme.     

Virus Type-Specific Thymidine Kinase in Cells Biochemically Transformed by Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2

Transformation of mouse cells (Ltk(-)) and human cells (HeLa Bu) from a thymidine kinase (TK)-minus to a TK(+) phenotype (herpes simplex virus [HSV]-transformed cells) has been induced by infection with ultraviolet-irradiated HSV type 2 (HSV-2), as well as by HSV type 1 (HSV-1). Medium containing methotrexate, thymidine, adenine, guanosine, and glycine was used to select for cells able to utilize exogenous thymidine. We have determined the kinetics of thermal inactivation of TK from cells lytically infected with HSV-1 or HSV-2 and from HSV-1- and HSV-2-transformed cells. Three hours of incubation at 41 C produces a 20-fold decrease in the TK activity of cell extracts from HSV-2-transformed cells and Ltk(-) cells lytically infected with HSV-2. The same conditions produce only a twofold decrease in the TK activities from HSV-1-transformed cells and cells lytically infected with HSV-1. This finding supports the hypothesis that an HSV structural gene coding for TK has been incorporated in the HSV-transformed cells.     

Deoxythymidine kinases in varicella-zoster virus infected and biochemically transformed cells

Deoxythymidine kinase (TK) activity induced in varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-infected human embryonic fibroblast (HEF) cells was immunologically distinguishable from that in non infected HEF cells and also from that in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infected HEF cells. The TKs in VZV-biochemically transformed cells were immunologically the same as that induced in VZV-infected human cells and immunologically different from that in Ltk- cells or in HSV-biochemically transformed cells. One peak of TK activity with an Rm value of 0.8-0.9, corresponding to mitochondrial TK, was observed on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Ltk- cell extracts. VZV infected Ltk- cells had two peaks of TK activity with Rm values of 0.45-0.5 (peak I) and 0.8-0.9 (peak II). Peak I and II were concluded to be virus-specific TK and mitochondrial TK, respectively. VZV-biochemically transformed cells had a peak of activity with an Rm value of 0.4-0.5, corresponding to peak I in VZV-infected Ltk- cells; that is VZV-specific TK activity. The present study indicates that VZV has a gene coding for its own TK.     

Origin of Thymidine Kinase in the Cells Infected with Infectious Canine Hepatitis Virus

Thymidine kinase (TK) was induced in dog kidney cells (DKC) and hamster embryo cells (HEC) infected with infectious canine hepatitis virus (ICHV). The enzyme activity increased and reached levels of 13 and 19 times as much as in uninfected cells by the 30th hr after infection in virus-infected DKC and HEC, respectively. No difference in the pattern of inactivation at 45 C was found between the TK of infected and uninfected cells. The activity of the TK from ICHV-infected DKC was not inhibited by a dog serum hyperimmunized against ICHV-infected DKC. From these results it was concluded that the TK which increased in ICHV-infected cells was of the cellular origin.     

Utilization of exogenous thymidine by Chlamydia psittaci growing in the thymidine kinase-containing and thymidine kinase-deficient L cells.

The incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of Chlamydia psittaci (strain 6BC) growing in thymidine kinase (adenosine 5'-triphosphate-thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 1.7.1.21)-containing L cells, L(TK+), and thymidine kinase-deficient L cells, LM(TK-), was examined by autoradiography. Label was detected over C. psittaci inclusions in L(TK+) but not LM(TK-) cells. No evidence for a chlamydia-specific thymidine kinase activity in either L(TK+) or LM(TK-) cells was obtained. Entry of [3H]thymidine into the DNA of C. psittaci growing in L(TK+) cells was quantitated by measuring label in purified C. psittaci. It was 265 times less efficient than entry into infected host cell DNA. It is concluded that low levels of exogenous thymidine are incorporated into the DNA of C. psittaci and that this incorporation is dependent on a fully competent host thymidine kinase activity. Evidence also is presented that L cells possess at least two thymidine kinase activities, both of which are capable of supplying thymidylate precursors for nuclear DNA synthesis.     

Origin of the Thymidine Kinase Induced by Polyoma Virus in Productively Infected Cells

Cells of the 3T3 mouse line efficiently supported the multiplication of polyoma virus, and the infectious process was accompanied by a marked increase in thymidine kinase (TK) activity. Two lines of 5-bromodeoxyuridine-resistant 3T3 cells have been isolated. As expected, these cells incorporated practically no exogenous thymidine into their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and contained negligible TK activity. Like the parental 3T3 cells, TK(-) lines were susceptible to productive infection by polyoma virus, but infection did not lead to an increase in TK activity. Since kinase activity did appear after infection with another virus (vaccinia) known to contain the gene(s) for that enzyme, it is concluded that TK is not one of the gene products of polyoma virus. As induction of cellular DNA synthesis by polyoma virus occurs normally when the TK(-) cells are infected in the stationary phase, TK cannot play a role in the determination of this phenomenon.     

Stimulation of Cellular Thymidine Kinases by Human Cytomegalovirus

Thymidine kinase (TK) activity in WI-38 and MRC-5 human fibroblasts was analyzed by discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (disc-PAGE) and discontinuous glycerol gradient electrophoresis (disc-GEP) after subculture or human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. Two peaks of TK activity with different relative fraction-of-migration (R(f)) values were resolved by disc-PAGE or disc-GEP in extracts from log-phase and infected cells. Growing WI-38 cells expressed a slowly migrating (R(f) = 0.14 PAGE, R(f) = 0.4 GEP) peak of TK activity, which was partially inhibited by 1.0 mM dCTP, but which retained little activity at pH 4.5. Growing MRC cells also displayed a slowly migrating peak (R(f) = 0.10 PAGE) with similar properties. Both cell types expressed a faster-migrating TK activity (R(f) = 0.45 PAGE, R(f) = 0.7 GEP) in the growing and resting state that was strongly inhibited by 1 mM dCTP but retained 50% activity at pH 4.5. When either cell type was infected with HCMV, there was a rapid and high-level stimulation of the slowly migrating form of TK and a slight stimulation of the faster-migrating form. Two strains of HCMV (AD169 and Town) failed to produce an electrophoretically distinct virus TK in either cell type after infection. TK enzymes were partially purified by disc-GEP from extracts of log-phase WI-38 or AD169-infected WI-38 cells. Characterization of these enzymes with respect to phosphate donor specificity, pH optima, thermostability, and salt inhibition showed the HCMV-stimulated TKs to be of cellular origin.     

Regulation of thymidine kinase activity in mouse L cells biochemically transformed by varicella-zoster virus

Regulation of thymidine kinase (TK) activity was examined in L(O)c133 and L(H3) cells carrying varicella-zoster virus-TK gene. TK activity of L(O)c133 cells was similarly high in either medium but that of L(H3) cells was high in HAT medium and low in non-HAT medium. Cell growth was well correlated with TK activities of L(O)c133 and L(H3) cells in medium conditions. Regulation of the TK gene in L cells carrying the VZV-TK gene is discussed.