Expression and Characterization of Fusion Protein with Autographa californica Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Polyhedrin and Green Fluorescent Protein in Insect Cells
Autographa californica 핵다각체병 바이러스(AcNPV)의 다각체 단백질과 초록색 형광 단백질의 융합단백질의 특성을 분석하였다. 초록색 형광 단백질 유전자는 AcNPV의 완전한 다각체 단백질 유전자의 앞쪽과 뒤쪽에 융합하여 다각체 단백질 유전자의 프로모터 조절하에 도입하였다. 이렇게 작성된 재조합 바이러스를 각각 Ac-GFPPOL 또는 Ac-POLGFP이라고 명명하였다. 이들 재조합 바이러스에 의해 감염된 곤충세포주에서는 56kDa의 융합단백질이 발현되었다. 한편, 흥미롭게도 재조합 바이러스 Ac-POLGFP에 의해 감염된 세포주에서는 초록색 형광이 핵내에서만 다각체 유사 granular particle 형태로 관찰되었다. 반면에 Ac-GFPPOP에 의해 감염된 세포도주에서는 대부분 핵내에 존재하였지만, 세포질과 핵 모두에서 초록색 형광을 관찰할 수 있었다. 그러나 발현된 융합단백질은 분명히 다각체단백질을 포함하고 있음에도 다각체는 형성하지 않았다. 이러한 결과들은 융합단백질에서 다각체단백질의 위치와 관련이 있는 것으로 보여진다.
We have now constructed a novel recombinant baculovirus producing fusion protein with Autogrqha c.uliforrzica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) polyhedrin and green fluorescent protein (GFP). The fusion protein expressed by the recombinant baculovirus in insect cells was characterized. The GFP gene was introduced under the control of polyhedrin gene promoter of AcNPV, by fusion in the front or back of intact polyhedrin gene. The recombinant baculoviruses were named as Ac-GFPPOL or Ac-POLGFP. respectively. As expected, the 56 kDa fusion protein was expressed in the recombinant virus-infected cells. Interestingly. however, the fluorescence of GFP in the cells infected with Ac- POLGFP was only detected within the nuclei. and that was observed as polyhedra-like granular particles. In the microscopy of cells infected with Ac-GFPPOL, furthermore, GFP was detected in both cytoplasm and nuclei although most of GFP were present within the nuclei. However, fusion protein produced by recombinant virus did not form polyhedra although the fusion protein was fused with polyhedrin and GFP. It is suggested that difference of GFP location in the infected cells appear to be involved in the region of polyhedrin in the fusion protein, and the polyhedrin in the fusion protein might be responsible for the polyhedra-like granular particles present within nuclei.