Abstract
Expression of the baculovirus major envelope glycoprotein gene(gp64) is regulated by transcription from botha early and late promoters. To develop a transient expression vector under the control of gp64 gene promoter, the gp64 gene of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus-K1(BmNPV-K1) was characterized. The gp64 gene was local-ized at EcoR I-Pst I 7.38-kb fragment of the BmNPV-K1 genome. The EcorR 1-Pst I 7.38-kb fragment was cloned and the nucleotide sequence of 2,277 bases including the coding region of gp64 gene was determined. Based on these results, transient expression vector using gp64 gene promoter was constructed and named as pBm64. E.coli lacZ gene was introduced onto pBm64 as a reporter gene and expressed transiently in B. mori 5(Bm 5) cells. The expression vector transfected into the cells was maintained stably for 1 to 5 days. In order to confirm the expression of the reporter gene by gp64 promoter, recombinant virus was constructed. The recombinant virus has two independent transcription units in opposite orientations with two promoters; gp64 and polyhedrin gene promoters each initiating transcription of $\beta$-galactosidase and polyhedrin, respectively. Polyhedra formation and expression of $\beta$-galactosidase in Bm5 cells infected with the recombinant virus were observed with phase contrast microscope and in situ staining.
누에 핵다각체병 바이러스의 gp64 프로모터를 이용한 transient 발현 벡터를 제작하기 위해서 gp64 유전자의 구조를 분석하였다. Southern blotting 분석을 통해 genome DNA에서 gp64 유전자를 탐색하기 gp64 구조유전자를 포함하는 2,277 nucleotide의 염기를 분석하였으며 gp64의 early, late 프로모터 발현을 조절하는 인자들을 확인하였다. gp64프로모터를 이용한 transient 발현 벡터를 제작하고 외래유전자로써 lacZ 유전자를 Bm5 세포주에서 transient 발현시켰다. 세포주 내에 도입된 플라스미드 DNA의 안정성을 확인하였으며, gp64 프로모터의 외래유전자 발현성 여부를 조사하기 위하여 gp64 프로모터 하에 laxZ 유전자를 가지는 재조합 바이러스를 제작하고 $\beta$-galactosidase in 냐셔 staining을 수행한 결과 전체적인 발현량은 매우 약한 것으로 판단되었다. BmNPV-K1의 gp64 프로모터를 이용한 벡터는 더욱 민감한 표지 유전자를 발현시켜 재조합 바이러스의 분리에 이용하거나 숙주세포에 독성을 보이는 유전자 산물의 소량 발현에 더욱 유용할 것으로 판단된다.
