Nuclear accumulation of a heat-shock 70-like protein during herpes simplex virus replication

A monoclonal antibody defines an antigen, p68, related to hsp70, which is located in nuclei of uninfected exponential cells. Nuclear p68 is released by DNase but not RNase treatment suggesting an association with DNA. Lytic productive infection of confluent quiescent BHK 21 cells with herpes simplex virus type-2 causes p68 to accumulate in nuclei. The effect is specific for HSV-2, and does not occur in HSV-1 infected cells. Maximum nuclear accumulation of p68 requires virus DNA synthesis although a significant accumulation occurs in the absence of such synthesis. It is suggested that the nuclear accumulation of p68 is an aspect of a cellular stress response to lytic infection with HSV-2.Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Tumour Immunology Unit.     

Gene Delivery into Neuronal Cells by Calcium Phosphate-Mediated Transfection

This paper describes a method for introducing DNA constructs into primary adult dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron cultures. The method uses a modified calcium phosphate technique and enables relatively small numbers of cells to be used. We have used this method to study the promoter sequences responsible for mediating gene activity and nerve growth factor responsiveness in DRG neurons. It can also be used, however, for other purposes such as testing the effect on neuronal function of overexpressing a specific gene product.