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A tale of two hypotheses: Effect of the herpes simplex-1 virus virion host shutoff (vhs) protein on bicistronic reporters
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- Author / Creator
- Rose, Alexandra R
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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
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- Graduation date
- Fall 2014
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- 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.