Expression and processing of nonstructural proteins of the human astroviruses

Adv Exp Med Biol. 1998:440:387-91. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4615-5331-1_50.

Abstract

The human astroviruses (HAst) are increasingly recognized as an important cause of gastroenteritis. These viruses contain a 6.8-kb positive-sense, single-stranded RNA molecule that is infectious when transfected into permissive cells. The HAst gene 1 is composed of two open reading frames (ORFs 1a and 1b) connected by a ribosomal frameshift. Gene 1 is predicted to encode two nonstructural polyproteins (pp 1a and pp 1ab), and analysis of the HAst gene 1 sequence has resulted in predictions of a serine proteinase within the ORF1a polyprotein. However, none of the gene 1 proteins have been identified. To examine the expression and processing of the HAst2 gene 1 polyprotein, we have translated pp 1a and pp 1ab in vitro. These ongoing studies will provide the foundation for correlating gene 1 expression in vitro with proteins expressed in virus-infected cells.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Viral
  • Humans
  • Mamastrovirus / genetics
  • Mamastrovirus / metabolism*
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Peptides
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins