Nucleotide sequence, transcriptional mapping, and temporal expression of the gene encoding p39, a major structural protein of the multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Orgyia pseudotsugata.

The gene encoding the 39-kDa major structural protein (p39) of Orgyia pseudotsugata nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) was sequenced and transcriptionally mapped, and its expression was examined at various times postinfection. By Northern hybridization, primer extension, and S1 nuclease analysis, we identified p39 mRNAs of approximately 2600 nt. By primer extension analysis, we identified two major sets of transcripts which initiated around -48 and -96 nt upstream of the translation start codon. The transcription start sites were located within the conserved baculovirus late gene consensus sequence, ATAAG, which is duplicated in the p39 5' flanking region. In OpMNPV-infected Lymantria dispar cells, the p39 mRNAs were expressed abundantly at 24 and 36 hr p.i. but were present in lower quantities at 48 hr p.i. The p39 gene contained an open reading frame of 1053 nt which encodes a predicted protein of 351 amino acids with an estimated molecular weight of 39.5 kDa. Three repeats of the amino acid sequence Ala-Pro-Ala-Ala-Pro were identified at the C-terminus of the predicted p39 protein.