Cetyltriethylammonium bromide stimulating transcription of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus gp64 gene promoter mediated by viral factors.

To characterize the effects of cetyltriethylammonium bromide (CTAB) on the transcription of gp64 promoter from Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), the plasmid pBmgp64Luc used in transient expression assay system was constructed by using the luciferase gene as a reporter under the control of BmNPV gp64 promoter. When the Bombyx mori cells (Bm-N) were transfected with the pBmgp64Luc, different treatments were undertaken. We found that the transient expression activity of luciferase could not be augmented directly by CTAB treatment alone, but could be enhanced more than 2 times by BmNPV treatment alone at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 0.5. Through co-treatment with 0.1 microg ml(-1) of CTAB and BmNPV at a MOI of 0.5, the enzymatic activity increased 5.21 times. We presumed that the stimulation of transcription of BmNPV gp64 promoter by CTAB was mediated by viral factors from BmNPV. In addition, the time curves of luciferase activity in cells transfected with pBmgp64Luc and transactivated by virus were observed.