A tale of two hypotheses: Effect of the herpes simplex-1 virus virion host shutoff (vhs) protein on bicistronic reporters

• Author / Creator

  Rose, Alexandra R

• The herpes simplex virus virion host shutoff (vhs) protein acts as
  an mRNA specific endoribonuclease. Our lab has previously determined
  that vhs stimulates expression of the 3’ CAT cistron of a bicistronic
  reporter plasmid while under the influence of the BiP IRES; however, the
  mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. Thus, different reporter
  constructs were assayed for CAT activity while under the influence of
  vhs. Vhs-induced CAT activation occurred not only in bicistronic reporter
  constructs containing the BiP IRES, but also in those containing
  truncated versions of the BiP IRES or an exonuclease blocking RNA
  element. The unrelated viral host shutoff nucleases EBV BGLF5, KHSV
  SOX and SARS coronavirus Nsp1 were also capable of stimulating CAT
  activity. Finally, a loss of mRNA was detected using northern blot after
  addition of vhs. Thus, it appears as if vhs activates 3’ cistron expression
  by degrading the 5’ cistron of the bicistronic mRNA instead of activating
  cap-independent translation.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • HSV-1, vhs

• Graduation date

  Fall 2014

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3WH2DR53

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.