Identification of a human cytomegalovirus mutant in the pp150 matrix phosphoprotein gene with a growth-defective phenotype

J Gen Virol. 1993 Aug:74 ( Pt 8):1645-8. doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-74-8-1645.

Abstract

Following amplification by PCR of a portion of the matrix phosphoprotein pp150 gene, electrophoretic analysis revealed the simultaneous presence of two viral variants of human cytomegalovirus in the blood of a heart transplant recipient. Repeated denaturation-annealing cycles during the amplification reaction led to the formation of heteroduplex molecules with altered electrophoretic mobility. Sequence analysis of the amplification products showed the presence of a viral variant carrying an in-frame three nucleotide deletion, which caused the absence of an aspartic acid in the corresponding protein. Attempts to plaque-purify the deletion mutant were unsuccessful, suggesting that the variant was growth-defective.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cytomegalovirus / genetics*
  • Cytomegalovirus / growth & development
  • Genes, Viral / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics*
  • Viral Matrix Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • Phosphoproteins
  • Viral Matrix Proteins
  • Viral Proteins
  • pp150 protein, Cytomegalovirus