Molecular characterization of genome segments 1 and 3 encoding two capsid proteins of Antheraea mylitta cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus
Authors: Saravana K K Mani
Mrinmay Chakrabarti
Suvankar Ghorai
Ananta K Ghosh
Journal: Virology Journal (2010)
Discipline: MICROBIOLOGY
Keywords: Antheraea mylitta cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus; genome segments; cDNA; ORF; protein
Affiliations: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India.

Abstract:  Background: Antheraea mylitta cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (AmCPV), a cypovirus of Reoviridae family, infects Indian non-mulberry silkworm, Antheraea mylitta, and contains 11 segmented double stranded RNA (S1-S11) in its genome. Some of its genome segments (S2 and S6-S11) have been previously characterized but genome segments encoding viral capsid have not been characterized. Results: In this study genome segments 1 (S1) and 3 (S3) of AmCPV were converted to cDNA, cloned and sequenced. S1 consisted of 3852 nucleotides, with one long ORF of 3735 nucleotides and could encode a protein of 1245 amino acids with molecular mass of approximately 141 kDa. Similarly, S3 consisted of 3784 nucleotides having a long ORF of 3630 nucleotides and could encode a protein of 1210 amino acids with molecular mass of approximately 137 kDa. BLAST analysis showed 20-22% homology of S1 and S3 sequence with spike and capsid proteins, respectively, of other closely related cypoviruses like Bombyx mori CPV (BmCPV), Lymantria dispar CPV (LdCPV), and Dendrolimus punctatus CPV (DpCPV). The ORFs of S1 and S3 were expressed as 141 kDa and 137 kDa insoluble His-tagged fusion proteins, respectively, in Escherichia coli M15 cells via pQE-30 vector, purified through Ni-NTA chromatography and polyclonal antibodies were raised. Immunoblot analysis of purified polyhedra, virion particles and virus infected mid-gut cells with the raised anti-p137 and anti-p141 antibodies showed specific immunoreactive bands and suggest that S1 and S3 may code for viral structural proteins. Expression of S1 and S3 ORFs in insect cells via baculovirus recombinants showed to produce viral like particles (VLPs) by transmission electron microscopy. Immunogold staining showed that S3 encoded proteins self assembled to form viral outer capsid and VLPs maintained their stability at different pH in presence of S1 encoded protein. Conclusion: Our results of cloning, sequencing and functional analysis of AmCPV S1 and S3 indicate that S3 encoded viral structural proteins can self assemble to form viral outer capsid and S1 encoded protein remains associated with it as inner capsid to maintain the stability. Further studies will help to understand the molecular mechanism of capsid formation during cypovirus replication. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 multiple, repetitive image areas ![file] Disclaimer: These potential image duplications have been detected automatically using ImageTwin http: dx.doi.org 10.1145 3019612.3019875 Although results have been curated, the automatic algorithm may have generated false positive results and cannot take into account all scientific explanations for apparent duplications like stripped and reprobed blots, time series, serial sections and reused controls. , 
 Figure 7 also. TAM. *** ![file] , 
 Figure 6C. *** ![file] *** False color ![file] , 
 Expression of Concern, [31 August 2021] . ---------------------------------- The Editor-in-Chief is issuing an editorial expression of concerns for this article [1]. Concerns were raised regarding a number of figures in this article, specifically: Figure 6C: the blots in lanes 4 and 5 appear to be very similar Figure 7: the native virion particle panel for pH-7.3 (B) appears to partially overlap with the VLP containing AMCPV S3 panel for pH-7.3 (B) Figure 7: the VLP containing AmCPV S3 panel for pH-4 (A) appears to partially overlap with the VLP containing AmCPV S3 panel for pH-12 (C) Author Ananta K Ghosh has stated the original data are no longer available. Readers are urged to use caution when interpreting the results related to the data presented in these figures. Ananta K Ghosh agrees to this EEoC. The editor was not able to obtain a current email address for Mrinmay Chakrabarti, Suvankar Ghorai, Saravana KK Mani. , 
 I just noticed that the Expression of Concern did not mention Figure 5, which was the subject of #1. Here s how I ve notated some of those issues. *** ![file] ,