JC virus agnoprotein colocalizes with tubulin

J Neurovirol. 2003:9 Suppl 1:10-4. doi: 10.1080/13550280390195333.

Abstract

The human polyomavirus JC (JCV) encodes an agnoprotein that consists of 71 amino acid residues, with a molecular weight of approximately 8 kDa, from the late protein coding region. The agnoprotein of JCV shares 50% to 60% homology with those of simian virus 40 (SV40) and BK virus (BKV), and the carboxyl-terminal region of JCV agnoprotein is relatively unique. By using specific antibody to the carboxyl-terminal region of JCV agnoprotein, the authors have demonstrated that JCV agnoprotein expressed in the JCV-infected cells, where it localized predominantly in the perinuclear region of the cytoplasm, and colocalizes with the cellular cytoskeletal protein, tubulin. The results suggest that JCV agnoprotein may play a role in the stability of microtubules and the preservation of JCV infected cells via an interaction with tubulin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cytoplasm / chemistry
  • Cytoplasm / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • JC Virus*
  • Microtubules / chemistry
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Polyomavirus Infections / metabolism*
  • Tubulin / analysis*
  • Tubulin / immunology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Virus Infections / metabolism*
  • Viral Proteins / analysis*
  • Viral Proteins / immunology
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins

Substances

  • Tubulin
  • Viral Proteins
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • agnoprotein, polyomavirus