Gene products of the embedded m41/m41.1 locus of murine cytomegalovirus differentially influence replication and pathogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Cytomegaloviruses utilize overlapping and embedded reading frames as a way to efficiently package and express all genes necessary to carry out a complex lifecycle. Murine cytomegalovirus encodes a mitochondrial-localized inhibitor of Bak oligomerization (vIBO) from m41.1, a reading frame that is embedded within the m41 gene. The m41.1-encoded mitochondrial protein and m41-encoded Golgi-localized protein have both been implicated in cell death suppression; however, their contribution to viral infection within the host has not been investigated. Here, we report that mitochondrial-localized m41.1 (vIBO) is required for optimal viral replication in macrophages and has a modest impact on dissemination in infected mice. In contrast, Golgi-localized m41 protein is dispensable during acute infecti

SUBMITTER: Crosby LN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3557549 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature