Rana grylio virus (RGV) 50l is associated with viral matrix and exhibited two distribution patterns

Abstract

Background: The complete genome of Rana grylio virus (RGV) was sequenced and analyzed recently, which revealed that RGV 50L had homologues in many iridoviruses with different identities; however, the characteristics and functions of 50L have not been studied yet. Methodology/Principal Findings: We cloned and characterized RGV50L, and revealed 50L functions in virus assembly and gene regulation. 50L encoded a 499-amino acid structural protein of about 85 kDa in molecular weight and contained a nuclear localization signal (NLS) and a helix- extension-helix motif. Drug inhibition assay demonstrated that 50L was an immediate-early (IE) gene. Immuno-fluorescence assay revealed that 50L appeared early and persisted in RGV-infected cells following two distribution patterns. One pattern was that 50L exhibited a cytoplasm-nucleus- viromatrix distribution pattern, and mutagenesis of the NLS motif revealed that localization of 50L in the nucleus was NLS-dependent; the other was that 50L co-localized with viral matrix which plays important roles in virus assembly and the life circle of viruses. Conclusions/Significance: RGV 50L is a novel iridovirus IE gene encoded structural protein which plays important roles in virus assembly. © 2012 Lei et al.