草地贪夜蛾V-ATPase亚基A、B、C和D基因的克隆与分析

【目的】克隆获得草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda V-ATP酶（Vacuolar-type proton,ATPase）V1结构域A、B、C和D亚基的cDNA序列,分析其在草地贪夜蛾不同生长阶段的表达情况,为筛选新型农药的靶点奠定基础。【方法】利用PCR技术获得草地贪夜蛾V-ATP酶V1结构域A、B、C和D亚基基因的ORF区域,采用qRT-PCR技术检测各基因在草地贪夜蛾不同发育时期的表达水平。【结果】A、B、C和D亚基基因均在不同鳞翅目昆虫中高度保守。A-D亚基在草地贪夜蛾各生长阶段均有表达,在幼虫阶段和成虫阶段的表达量均较高,表明V-ATP酶可能影响幼虫生长发育和成虫交配繁殖。卵期和蛹期表达量低,这与卵期和蛹期昆虫各项生命活动低有关。各亚基在各发育时期的表达量存在差异,说明V-ATP酶A、B、C和D发挥不同的功能。【结论】从草地贪夜蛾中克隆了V-ATP酶V1结构域A、B、C和D亚基4个基因在草地贪夜蛾不同发育阶段表达量具有差异,推测其对草地贪夜蛾的生长、发育和繁殖具有重要的调控作用。     

小菜蛾NanosO基因启动子的克隆及功能验证

【目的】克隆小菜蛾Plutella xylostella NanosO基因PxnosO启动子,并验证其具有生殖腺特异性活性,以期应用于基因功能研究或转基因昆虫的构建,为小菜蛾等农业害虫的综合治理提供新的研究思路。【方法】根据小菜蛾基因组序列信息,利用PCR技术克隆NanosO的启动子并进行序列分析。构建PxnosO-EGFP表达质粒,利用脂质体细胞转染技术将PxnosO-EGFP和IE1-EGFP表达质粒转入到小菜蛾胚胎细胞系(Px-6)和草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda卵巢细胞系(Sf9)中,通过激光共聚焦荧光显微镜观察和qRT-PCR技术分别定性和定量分析EGFP基因的表达,验证小菜蛾NanosO启动子的活性。【结果】克隆获得小菜蛾PxnosO (Px004767)启动子区序列,长1 743 bp。对启动子序列进行分析,发现该序列不仅包含启动子共有核心元件TATA box以及上游启动子成分CAAT box和GC box等,还包含有数十个转录因子结合位点。利用细胞转染技术,在PxnosO启动子驱动下成功地在Px-6和Sf9细胞系中表达外源基因EGFP。【结论】克隆了小菜蛾NanosO基因PxnosO启动子,在细胞水平上验证其能驱动外源EGFP基因的表达,为分析PxnosO在小菜蛾不同发育时期的表达模式和PxnosO启动子在体内的功能验证奠定基础。     

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.     

苜蓿丫纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒fp25k基因的改造及用于稳定转化Sf9昆虫细胞系

【目的】苜蓿丫纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒(Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus, AcMNPV)在昆虫细胞中连续传代以后,会出现从多多角体表型到少多角体表型的转变,这种转变与一个编码25 kDa蛋白的基因（few polyhedra, fp25k）突变失活有关。杆状病毒的fp25k基因突变后产生的包涵体（多角体）衍生病毒粒子变少而出芽型病毒粒子增加,会降低外源基因在杆状病毒表达系统中的表达。本研究拟改造fp25k并构建能持续表达FP25K蛋白的转基因昆虫细胞,以克服杆状病毒, fp25k基因易突变导致的表达系统缺陷。【方法】本实验通过改造杆状病毒, fp25k基因在细胞传代过程中容易产生突变的位点,得到 mfp25k,并将mfp25k构建到pIZT/V5-His载体上,重组载体转染Sf9细胞,通过Zeocin抗性筛选逐步淘汰未成功转化的Sf9细胞。【结果】成功改造AcMNPV的, fp25k基因的TTAA位点,得到pIZT-mfp25k重组载体。重组载体成功转染Sf9细胞,通过Zeocin抗性筛选后获得基因组中带有mfp25k的Sf9-mfp25k稳定的转基因细胞系。用AcMNPV的fp25k突变型病毒AcP2感染转基因Sf9-mfp25k昆虫细胞系与正常Sf9细胞,发现转基因Sf9-mfp25k昆虫细胞系表达的FP25K蛋白可弥补病毒, fp25k基因突变的缺陷。【结论】建立的Sf9-mfp25k转基因昆虫细胞系通过细胞表达FP25K蛋白,可以弥补因杆状病毒fp25k基因突变产生的缺陷。研究结果为构建稳定的杆状病毒 昆虫细胞表达系统提供了新途径。     

草地贪夜蛾海藻糖合成酶基因的克隆、时空表达谱及对温度胁迫的响应

【目的】本研究旨在通过克隆草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda的海藻糖合成酶(trehalose-6-phosphate synthase)基因SfTPS,分析其在草地贪夜蛾不同发育阶段、不同组织中的表达水平及不同温度胁迫时5龄幼虫中的相对表达量,为进一步探究TPS在草地贪夜蛾生长发育及抗逆应激反应中的功能奠定基础。【方法】运用RT-PCR技术克隆草地贪夜蛾SfTPS的全长编码区,并进行生物信息学分析。运用RT-qPCR技术检测SfTPS在草地贪夜蛾不同发育阶段(卵、1-6龄幼虫、蛹和成虫)、5龄幼虫不同组织(体壁、中肠和脂肪体)中和经短期(2, 4和8 h)高(35℃)低温(10℃)胁迫后5龄幼虫中的表达变化。【结果】克隆获得2 571 bp的草地贪夜蛾TPS cDNA序列,命名为SfTPS(GenBank登录号： MT920672),全长开放阅读框(ORF)长2 481 bp,编码的826个氨基酸具有TPS和TPP两个保守结构域。同源比对和系统进化分析表明,昆虫TPS蛋白具有较高的保守性,SfTPS与斜纹夜蛾S. litura的TPS亲缘关系最近,序列一致性达到99.15%。SfTPS中α-螺旋、β-折叠和无规则卷曲占比分别为38.14%, 12.23%和48.55%;SfTPS的三级结构为同源二聚体。RT-qPCR结果表明,SfTPS在草地贪夜蛾卵期和1-5龄幼虫期低表达,在6龄幼虫期、蛹期和成虫期高表达,且草地贪夜蛾变态前后SfTPS的表达量变化较大。组织分布结果显示,SfTPS在5龄幼虫脂肪体中表达量最高。草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫经2~8 h低温(10℃)和高温(35℃)胁迫后,SfTPS的相对表达量显著高于对照(25℃),分别为对照的4.43~9.34和2.50~6.03倍。【结论】SfTPS基因在草地贪夜蛾生长发育过程及抵御高低温度胁迫中可能具有重要作用。     

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。     

草地贪夜蛾烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体α6和α7亚基基因克隆及其对乙基多杀菌素胁迫的响应

【目的】烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, nAchRs)作为昆虫中枢神经系统中重要的神经递质受体,是乙基多杀菌素的重要靶标。本研究旨在克隆草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda nAchR基因,并探析其对乙基多杀菌素胁迫的响应。【方法】基于前期草地贪夜蛾转录组数据,采用RT-PCR和RACE分别克隆草地贪夜蛾nAchRα6和α7亚基基因;乙基多杀菌素(0.400 mg/L)处理草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫48 h后,采用RT-qPCR技术检测nAchRα6和α7亚基基因的表达量的变化。【结果】nAchRα6亚基基因(GenBank登录号：MT951400)开放阅读框长1 506 bp,编码502个氨基酸,并具有跨膜区与信号肽;nAchRsα7亚基基因(GenBank登录号：MW557608)开放阅读框长1 524 bp,编码508个氨基酸,并具有跨膜区与信号肽。根据氨基酸多序列比对分析,草地贪夜蛾nAchR亚基α6和α7具有烟碱性乙酰胆碱受体α家族典型特征。0.400 mg/L乙基多杀菌素胁迫48 h后,草地贪夜蛾3龄幼虫nA...     

草地贪夜蛾Sf9细胞中snoRNA Bm-15反义寡核苷酸的定位及其对Bm-15的干涉效率

【目的】利用反义寡核苷酸(antisense oligonucleotide,ASO)干涉昆虫核仁小RNA(small nucleolar RNA,snoRNA)Bm-15的表达,并探索ASO进入细胞后的代谢途径。【方法】利用脂质体携带Cy5标记的、2'-O核糖甲基化修饰和硫代磷酸骨架修饰的Bm-15 ASO转染草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9细胞,然后通过Cy5标记与溶酶体及线粒体免疫荧光探针共定位研究Bm-15 ASO在细胞内的转运机制。利用实时荧光定量PCR检测转染Bm-15 ASO的Sf9细胞中Bm-15的表达量,分析ASO对snoRNA Bm-15的干涉效果。【结果】Bm-15 ASO转染草地贪夜蛾Sf9细胞48 h后,ASO荧光信号充斥整个细胞和位于细胞边缘的比例分别为34%和66%,说明ASO进入细胞后可能分布在不同的亚细胞器中;进一步对Bm-15 ASO和溶酶体及线粒体进行共定位发现,位于细胞边缘的ASO大多被运输至溶酶体而不会存在于线粒体等细胞器中。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,转染Bm-15 ASO的Sf9细胞中Bm-15表达量下降了47%。【结论】即使经过多种化学修饰,ASO仍然逃避不了细胞内源降解机器的识别,这有效解释了某些情况下利用ASO干涉基因表达时靶标基因干涉效率较低的现象。     

草地贪夜蛾热激蛋白基因SfHsp90的克隆及在高低温和UV-A胁迫下的表达分析

【目的】本研究旨在探索草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda响应高低温和UV-A胁迫的分子机制。【方法】通过RT-PCR技术克隆草地贪夜蛾热激蛋白基因Hsp90,利用生物信息学方法分析其序列特征;采用RT-qPCR技术检测草地贪夜蛾Hsp90基因在不同发育阶段(卵、1-6龄幼虫、蛹和成虫)、成虫不同组织(去除触角和复眼的头、胸、腹、触角、复眼、足、翅、中肠、精巢和卵巢)及在不同时长(0, 30, 60, 90, 120和150 min)高温(36℃)、低温(4℃)和UV-A胁迫下成虫中的相对表达量。【结果】克隆获得草地贪夜蛾Hsp90基因,命名为SfHsp90(GenBank登录号:MN832694),该基因开放阅读框(ORF)长2 154 bp,编码717个氨基酸,编码蛋白质相对分子量为82.52 kD,等电点(pI)为5.01,C末端序列含保守基序EEVD,说明该蛋白为胞质型热激蛋白。系统进化分析结果表明,昆虫Hsp90高度保守。发育表达模式显示SfHsp90在草地贪夜蛾1龄幼虫中表达量最高;组织表达模式显示,SfHsp90在草地贪夜蛾雌雄成虫的触角、复眼和去除触角和复眼的头中的表达量显著高于在其他组织中的。高低温胁迫对草地贪夜蛾SfHsp90表达具有明显的诱导作用,36℃胁迫下,SfHsp90表达量显著高于对照,且随着处理时间的延长,在雄成虫中表达量先上升后下降,在60 min时达到最高值,在雌成虫中表达量随处理时间延长逐渐升高;4℃胁迫下,在雄成虫中表达量随着处理时间的延长先上升后下降,在30 min时表达量达到峰值,在雌成虫中表达量随着处理时间延长逐渐上升;随着UV-A照射时间的延长,在雌雄成虫中表达量先上升后下降,90 min时在雄成虫中表达量达到最高值,60 min时在雌成虫中表达量达到最高值。【结论】草地贪夜蛾SfHsp90基因在高低温和UV-A胁迫下的差异表达说明该基因在草地贪夜蛾响应环境胁迫的分子机制中发挥重要作用。     

4种昆虫病原线虫对草地贪夜蛾的致死作用

【目的】探讨昆虫病原线虫对草地贪夜蛾幼虫的侵染效果。【方法】在室内条件下采用生测试验法,测定了小卷蛾斯氏线虫AⅡ、长尾斯氏线虫X-7、夜蛾斯氏线虫SN和嗜菌异小杆线虫H06等4种昆虫病原线虫对草地贪夜蛾2龄和5龄幼虫的致死作用。【结果】小卷蛾斯氏线虫AⅡ与草地贪夜蛾数量比为50∶1时,36 h后草地贪夜蛾2龄和5龄幼虫的死亡率分别为92%和100%。长尾斯氏线虫X-7与草地贪夜蛾数量比为50∶1时,36 h后草地贪夜蛾2龄幼虫的死亡率为80%;在数量比30∶1时,36 h后草地贪夜蛾5龄幼虫死亡率为100%。夜蛾斯氏线虫SN与草地贪夜蛾数量比为400∶1时,36 h后草地贪夜蛾2龄和5龄幼虫的死亡率分别为88%和85%。嗜菌异小杆线虫H06与草地贪夜蛾在400∶1时,36 h后草地贪夜蛾2龄和5龄幼虫的死亡率分别为32%和67.5%。【结论】小卷蛾斯氏线虫AⅡ具有较好的草地贪夜蛾生物防治潜质,其次是长尾斯氏线虫X-7。     

烟芽夜蛾囊泡病毒3h株编码的3H-117蛋白能干扰AcMNPV的口服活性

[目的]囊泡病毒是一类体液传播的昆虫病毒,具有特殊的致病历程和良好的生防应用潜力.烟芽夜蛾囊泡病毒3h株(Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h,HvAV-3h)是我国分离的第一株囊泡病毒,其编码的3H-117蛋白被报道为HvAV-3h病毒粒子的结构蛋白.[方法]为了进一步探究3h-117基因...     

Structural Basis of Molecular Recognition between ESCRT-III-like Protein Vps60 and AAA-ATPase Regulator Vta1 in the Multivesicular Body Pathway

The AAA-ATPase Vps4 is critical for function of the multivesicular body sorting pathway, which impacts cellular phenomena ranging from receptor down-regulation to viral budding to cytokinesis. Vps4 activity is stimulated by the interaction between Vta1 and Vps60, but the structural basis for this interaction is unclear. The fragment Vps60(128–186) was reported to display the full activity of Vps60. Vta1 interacts with Vps60 using its N-terminal domain (Vta1NTD). In this work, the structure of Vps60(128–186) in complex with Vta1NTD was determined using NMR techniques, demonstrating a novel recognition mode of the microtubule-interacting and transport (MIT) domain in which Vps60(128–186) interacts with Vta1NTD through helices α4′ and α5′, extending over Vta1NTD MIT2 domain helices 1–3. The Vps60 binding does not result in Vta1 conformational changes, further revealing the fact that Vps4 ATPase is enhanced by the interaction between Vta1 and Vps60 in an unanticipated manner.     

1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignments of the N-terminal domain of Vta1–Vps60 peptide complex

Vta1 and Vps60 are two ESCRT associated proteins, their direct interaction enhances Vps4 ATPase activity. The N-terminal domain of Vta1 (residues 1–167aa, named as Vta1NTD) contains two tandem MIT domains, which specifically recognize Vps60 and Did2 but not other ESCRT-III subunits. The fragment Vps60 (128–186aa) was reported to display full activity of Vps60, which stimulates Vps4 ATPase in a Vta1-dependent manner. To study the structural basis for the interaction between Vta1 and Vps60, as a first step, here, we report the resonance assignments of the sequential backbone atoms and the side chains of the residues in the two components of Vta1NTD/Vps60_128–186 complex at pH 7.0 and 20 °C (BMRB No. 18521).     

应用竞争力指数分析III型效应子SKWP对青枯菌在寄主植物体内增殖能力的影响

[目的]研究Ⅲ型效应子SKWP对青枯菌OE1-1在寄主植物体内增殖能力的影响。[方法]构建青枯菌RK7197（野生型突变体,带Gm抗性）和SKWP单基因缺失突变体（带PB抗性）,通过竞争力指数分析SKWP各效应子对青枯菌OE1-1在叶片组织内增殖能力的影响。[结果]竞争力指数适合在寄主植物茄子上分析各效应子功能,6个SKWP效应子对OE1-1细菌增殖能力影响不同,SKWP4影响最明显。[结论]竞争力指数可提供一个新视野来分析SKWP各效应子对青枯菌OE1-1在寄主茄子上增殖能力的影响。     

MIT domainia

The AAA ATPase Vps4 disassembles the membrane-bound ESCRT-III lattice. Four recent publications show how Vps4 carries out this task in a partnership with another ESCRT-associated protein, Vta1. Vps4 and Vta1 both contain MIT domains, which bind to "MIT-interacting motifs" (MIMs) of ESCRT-III proteins. As new MIT domain proteins are rapidly being identified, these studies will likely have relevance well beyond Vps4.     

ESCRT-III family members stimulate Vps4 ATPase activity directly or via Vta1

The AAA-ATPase Vps4 is critical for function of the MVB sorting pathway, which in turn impacts cellular phenomena ranging from receptor downregulation to viral budding to cytokinesis. Vps4 dissociates ESCRTs from endosomal membranes during MVB sorting, but it is unclear how Vps4 ATPase activity is synchronized with ESCRT release. Vta1 potentiates Vps4 activity and interacts with ESCRT-III family members. We have investigated the impact of Vta1 and ESCRT-III family members on Vps4 ATPase activity. Two distinct mechanisms of Vps4 stimulation are described: Vps2 can directly stimulate Vps4 via its MIT domain, whereas Vps60 stimulates via Vta1. Moreover, Did2 can stimulate Vps4 by both mechanisms in distinct contexts. Recent structural determination of the ESCRT-III-binding region of Vta1 unexpectedly revealed a MIT-like region. These data support a model wherein a network of MIT and MIT-like domain interactions with ESCRT-III subunits contributes to the regulation of Vps4 activity during MVB sorting.     

Cryo-EM structure of dodecameric Vps4p and its 2:1 complex with Vta1p

The type I AAA (ATPase associated with a variety of cellular activities) ATPase Vps4 and its co-factor Vta1p/LIP5 function in membrane remodeling events that accompany cytokinesis, multivesicular body biogenesis, and retrovirus budding, apparently by driving disassembly and recycling of membrane-associated ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport)-III complexes. Here, we present electron cryomicroscopy reconstructions of dodecameric yeast Vps4p complexes with and without their microtubule interacting and transport (MIT) N-terminal domains and Vta1p co-factors. The ATPase domains of Vps4p form a bowl-like structure composed of stacked hexameric rings. The two rings adopt dramatically different conformations, with the “upper” ring forming an open assembly that defines the sides of the bowl and the lower ring forming a closed assembly that forms the bottom of the bowl. The N-terminal MIT domains of the upper ring localize on the symmetry axis above the cavity of the bowl, and the binding of six extended Vta1p monomers causes additional density to appear both above and below the bowl. The structures suggest models in which Vps4p MIT and Vta1p domains engage ESCRT-III substrates above the bowl and help transfer them into the bowl to be pumped through the center of the dodecameric assembly.     

Structural basis of Vta1 function in the multivesicular body sorting pathway

The MVB pathway plays essential roles in several eukaryotic cellular processes. Proper function of the MVB pathway requires reversible membrane association of the ESCRTs, a process catalyzed by Vps4 ATPase. Vta1 regulates the Vps4 activity, but its mechanism of action was poorly understood. We report the high-resolution crystal structures of the Did2- and Vps60-binding N-terminal domain and the Vps4-binding C-terminal domain of S. cerevisiae Vta1. The C-terminal domain also mediates Vta1 dimerization and both subunits are required for its function as a Vps4 regulator. Emerging from our analysis is a mechanism of regulation by Vta1 in which the C-terminal domain stabilizes the ATP-dependent double ring assembly of Vps4. In addition, the MIT motif-containing N-terminal domain, projected by a long disordered linker, allows contact between the Vps4 disassembly machinery and the accessory ESCRT-III proteins. This provides an additional level of regulation and coordination for ESCRT-III assembly and disassembly.     

A GP64-null baculovirus pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus G protein

The Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) GP64 protein is an essential virion protein that is involved in both receptor binding and membrane fusion during viral entry. Genetic studies have shown that GP64-null viruses are unable to move from cell to cell and this results from a defect in the assembly and production of budded virions (BV). To further examine requirements for virion budding, we asked whether a GP64-null baculovirus, vAc(64-), could be pseudotyped by introducing a heterologous viral envelope protein (vesicular stomatitis virus G protein [VSV-G]) into its membrane and whether the resulting virus was infectious. To address this question, we generated a stably transfected insect Sf9 cell line (Sf9(VSV-G)) that inducibly expresses the VSV-G protein upon infection with AcMNPV Sf9(VSV-G) and Sf9 cells were infected with vAc(64-), and cells were monitored for infection and for movement of infection from cell to cell. vAc(64-) formed plaques on Sf9(VSV-G) cells but not on Sf9 cells, and plaques formed on Sf9(VSV-G) cells were observed only after prolonged intervals. Passage and amplification of vAc(64-) on Sf9(VSV-G) cells resulted in pseudotyped virus particles that contained the VSV-G protein. Cell-to-cell propagation of vAc(64-) in the G-expressing cells was delayed in comparison to wild-type (wt) AcMNPV, and growth curves showed that pseudotyped vAc(64-) was generated at titers of approximately 10(6) to 10(7) infectious units (IU)/ml, compared with titers of approximately 10(8) IU/ml for wt AcMNPV. Propagation and amplification of pseudotyped vAc(64-) virions in Sf9(VSV-G) cells suggests that the VSV-G protein may either possess the signals necessary for baculovirus BV assembly and budding at the cell surface or may otherwise facilitate production of infectious baculovirus virions. The functional complementation of GP64-null viruses by VSV-G protein was further demonstrated by identification of a vAc(64-)-derived virus that had acquired the G gene through recombination with Sf9(VSV-G) cellular DNA. GP64-null viruses expressing the VSV-G gene were capable of productive infection, replication, and propagation in Sf9 cells.     

The Baculovirus Core Gene ac83 Is Required for Nucleocapsid Assembly and Per Os Infectivity of Autographa californica Nucleopolyhedrovirus

Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) ac83 is a baculovirus core gene whose function in the AcMNPV life cycle is unknown. In the present study, an ac83-knockout AcMNPV (vAc83KO) was constructed to investigate the function of ac83 through homologous recombination in Escherichia coli. No budded virions were produced in vAc83KO-transfected Sf9 cells, although viral DNA replication was unaffected. Electron microscopy revealed that nucleocapsid assembly was aborted due to the ac83 deletion. Domain-mapping studies revealed that the expression of Ac83 amino acid residues 451 to 600 partially rescued the ability of AcMNPV to produce infectious budded virions. Bioassays indicated that deletion of the chitin-binding domain of Ac83 resulted in the failure of oral infection of Trichoplusia ni larvae by AcMNPV, but AcMNPV remained infectious following intrahemocoelic injection, suggesting that the domain is involved in the binding of occlusion-derived virions to the peritrophic membrane and/or to other chitin-containing insect tissues. It has been demonstrated that Ac83 is the only component with a chitin-binding domain in the per os infectivity factor complex on the occlusion-derived virion envelope. Interestingly, a functional inner nuclear membrane sorting motif, which may facilitate the localization of Ac83 to the envelopes of occlusion-derived virions, was identified by immunofluorescence analysis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Ac83 plays an important role in nucleocapsid assembly and the establishment of oral infection.