METHOD OF PRODUCING alpha 2,3-SIALYLTRANSFERASE

Abstract: A method of preparation of lysate having alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase activity is disclosed. A cell culture having essentially no endogenous expression of eukaryotic alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase is infected with myxoma virus. The harvested triton lysates include significant quantities of a protein having eukaryotic alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase activity. Compositions having in vitro alpha 2,3-sialyltransferase activity and comprising a protein extract of lysates of the aforementioned lysates are also provided for.

Description: METHOD OF PRODUCING 2,3 SIALYLTRANSFERASE This invention relates to a method of producing 2,3 sialyltransferase. This invention has particular but not exclusive application to production of an enzyme having eukaryotic α2,3- Galβl,3(4) GlcNAc sialyltransferase activity, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used m other applications, such as production of assays for enzymes having eukaryotic α2,3- Galβl,3(4) GlcNAc sialyltransferase activity. The glycosyltranferases are a highly polymorphic group of membrane-bound enzymes of endoplas ic reticulum and Golgi bodies that catalyze the transfer of a single monosaccharide unit from a nucleotide donor to the hydroxyl group of an acceptor saccharide in the biosynthesis of N-glycan (Asn-GlcNAc N-glycosidic linkage; GlcNAc, N-acetylglucosamme) and O-glycan ( Se /Thr-GalNAc , O-glycosidic linkage ; GalNAc, N- acetylgalactosamine) moieties of giycoproteins and glycolipids. The eukaryotic sialyltransferases comprise a family of glycosyltransferases that catalyze the transfer of N- acetylneura inic acid (NeuAc), a sialic acid (SA) , from CMP-SA to oligosaccharide chains of glycoconjugates. The addition of the SA normally terminates oligosaccharide chain elongation except for polysialic chains found on neural cell adhesion molecule and gangliosides . Known eukaryotic sialyltransferases involved m the synthesis of N- and O-glycan derivatives of glycoprotein and glycolipid are summarized m Table 1, adapted from Palcic (1994 Methods in Enzymology, 230:300) . In the table, the transferred sugar residue is m bold, and R represents the remainder of the acceptor glycoprotein, glycolipid or oligosaccharide chain. TABLE 1 Sialyltransferase (ST) EC number Linkage synthesised Gal (2-6) -ST (ST6N) 2.4.99.1 NeuAc 2->6Galβl->4GlcNAc-R GalNAc ( 2- 6 ) -ST ( ST60I ) 2 . 4 . 99 . 4 NeuAcα2->6GalNAcα-R Gal ( 2- 3 ) -ST ( ST30) 2 . 4 . 99 . 4 NeuAcα2->3Galβ l ->4GalNAcα-R Gal ( 2 - 3 ) -ST ( ST 3N ) 2 . 4 . 99 . 6 NeuAcα2->3Galβl->3/4GlcNAc-R NeuAcα2 ->6 I GalNAc (2-6) -ST (ST601I) 2.4.99.7 NeuAcα2->3Galβl->3GalNAc-R N-Ac-neuramide α(2-8)- 2.4.99.8 NeuAcα2->8NeuAcα2->Galβ-R sialyltransferase Proteins produced by prokaryotes rarely possess N-termmal sugar chains, whereas eukaryotes exhibit many examples of such giycoproteins. α2, 3-sιalyltransferases are useful eukaryotic enzymes for in vitro synthesis of N-lmked and 0-lmked sialyl derivatives of giycoproteins, for determinations of acceptors, and other qualitative and quantitative research of giycoproteins. Only three glycosyltransferases are commercially available. These are the βl, 4-galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.38/2.4.1.90) isolated from bovine and human milk, the α2,6 Galβl,4 GlcNAc-sialyltransferase (ST6N, EC 2.4.99.1) isolated from rat liver, and the α2,3 Galβl,3 GalNAc- sialyltrasferase (ST30, EC 2.4.99.4) isolated from porcine liver. The ST30 enzyme has been withdrawn from the market by its erstwhile suppliers. No commercial source of α2, 3 Galβl,3(4) GalNAc-sialyltrasferase (ST3N) or other glycosyltransferases currently exist. No high expression vectors for cloned transferases are widely available, and accordingly most researchers isolate the required glycosyltransferases from mammalian tissues. Isolations from mammalian tissues are complicated by the low natural abundance of the glycosyltransferases and the need for chromatography for partial purification. These factors combine to render the isolates prone to contamination with other glycosyltransferases as well as enzyme inhibitors, resulting m poor and inconsistent results. A method for partial purification of ST3N from rat liver is described by Palicic (1994, Methods m Enzymology 230:300) following the procedure of Weistein et al (1982, J.Biol.Chem. 257:13835) . However, this process requires the use of animals as the source of the tissues and therefore adds to the number of animals sacrificed. Ethical considerations oblige researchers to seek and use procedures and processes that do not require animals where that is possible. In another approach to production of enzymes having α2,3- sialyltransferase activity, US Patent No. 5384249 (Sasaki, et al.) discloses a method comprising isolation of cDNA coding for enzyme having the activity of an α2, 3-sιalyltransferase from a cDNA library constructed from mRNA of human cell lines TYH (human histiocytic leukemia cell line) or WM266 (human melanoma cell line) , insertion into an expression cloning vector and selection against a lectin medium. The selected clones are isolated, amplified and target DNA isolated from the vector. After coupling to a suitable promoter, the cDNA isolate is used to transform a suitable prokaryote or eukaryote host cell for expression. The process of the disclosed method is of course a complex one and m keeping with many like processes the efficiency of expression of the inserted exogeneous DNA may vary over time. Further, inhibition may preclude commercially useful expression of the enzyme exhibiting α2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity. The present invention aims to substantially alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide a method for the preparation of α2, 3-sιalyltransferase which will be reliable and efficient m use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent. With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly m a method of preparation of lysates having α2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity including the steps of: infecting a cell culture having essentially no endogenous expression of eukaryotic α2, 3-sιalyltransferase with a poxviral agent including a gene expressing on infection a protein having eukaryotic α2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity, and a promoter therefor, and harvesting a lysate of said infected cell culture containing a protein having α2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity. In a further aspect this invention resides broadly m compositions having m vitro α2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity and comprising a protem extract of lysates of a eukaryote cell culture, having essentially no endogenous expression of eukaryotic α2, 3-sιalyltransferase, cultured with a poxviral agent including a gene and promoter expressing m said culture a protem having eukaryotic α2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity. The applicant has unexpectedly determined that certain poxviral genomes include genes coding for proteins having eukaryotic α2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity, which are expressed m infected substrates to a commercially useful degree. Especially, it has been determmed by the applicant that Lepoπpoxvirus including the Brazilian myxoma virus (MYXV) , Shope (rabbit) fibroma virus, hare fibroma virus, squirrel fibroma virus and Californian myxoma virus. MYXV naturally infects the Brazilian tapeti ( Syl vilagus brasili ensis) and causes the development of a small localised tumour which persists for several months and then regresses rapidly. In contrast to the trivial symptoms its natural host, infection of the European rabbit ( Oryctolagus cumcul us) with MYXV causes the devastating disease myxomatosis. Preferably the poxvirus is selected from the myxoma viruses of rabbits including a wild type endogenous gene and promoter coding for a eukaryotic α2, 3-sιalyltransferase. However, it is envisaged that sialyltransferase gene encoded by myxoma virus may not be unique to this virus and could be encoded by other poxviruses of the Lepoπpoxvirus genus. Related sialyltransferase genes could also be encoded by other genera of the sub-families Chordopoxvir ae, Entomopoxvinnae and unclassified viruses of the family Poxviπdae (Esposito 1991, Archives of Virology (Suppl) 2:91) . Examples of potential candidate poxviruses are given m Table 2. TABLE 2 Family: Poxviridae; Subfamily: Chordopoxviridae Genus Prototype virus Orthopoxvirus vaccmia virus Parapoxvirus orf virus Capripoxvirus sheep pox virus Suipoxvirus swmepox virus Leporipoxvirus myxoma virus Avipoxvirus fowlpox virus Yatapoxvirus yaba monkey tumour virus Molluscipoxvirus molluscum contagiosum virus Sialyltransferase assays of poxvirus infected cell lysates, as described in this application, may be used to determine if the individual poxvirus species express an active sialyltransferase enzyme. These assays may be conducted by observing the transfer of a labelled sialic acid from CMP-SA to a glycoconjugate acceptor. Such labelled donors may be CMP- [H 3 ]SA, CMP-fC jSA or CMP-9 fluorescemyl-SA (Gross et al, 1990, Analytical Biochem, 186:127) . The labelled acceptors may be visualised by SDS-PAGE or thm layer chromatography followed by autoradiography or fluorography. Alternatively when usmg CMP-9-fluorescemyl-SA the labelled acceptor may be separated by from donor molecules by Sephadex G-50 fine chromatography and the extent of labelling of the acceptor measured using a florescence spectrophotometer (fluorometer) . Other poxviruses may contain a related sialyltransferase gene located in the same genomic location as the myxoma virus Uriarra and Lausanne strains, ie between the genes equivalent to A51 and A52 of the Copenhagen strain of vaccinia virus (Goebel et al, 1990, Virology 179:247) . These related sialyltransferase genes could be isolated by polymerase chain reaction usmg appropriate primers. Accordmgly, m a further aspect, this invention resides in the set of degenerate primers: CAP-1 GGGATCCAT[A/T/C]TC[T/C]AG[A/G]CA[T/C]AA[A/G]CG CAP-11 GGGATCCGC[A/G]CA[T/C]AA[A/T/C/G]CC[T/G/A]ATCAT These primers have been designed based on conserved ammo acids between the variola and myxoma viruses. CAP-I is located withm the A51 gene correspondmg to the translation I-S-R-H-K-R. CAP-II is complementary to the A52 gene sequence correspondmg to the translation M-I-G-L-C-A. Amplification of poxvirus DNA using these primers should generate a product of 0.9kb for viruses which do not encode additional DNA between A51 and A52 (no sialyltransferase gene at this genomic location), and 1.9kb or larger for viruses which contain addition DNA sequence between the A51 and A52 genes. For the myxoma viruses, 1.9kb, the addition of lkb of DNA corresponds to the sialyltransferase gene. Vaccmia virus contams a conservative substitution with primer site CAP-I with Q codon instead the K codon of variola and myxoma viruses. This results in a mismatch at position 20 to the oligonucleotide CAP-I. Nevertheless under the amplification conditions a major 0.9kb product was generated using a vaccinia virus, strain wr, DNA template. Indicating that the primers can tolerate minor mismatch during the amplification procedure. Myxoma virus is known to replicated m a number of permissive cultured cells of rabbit, chicken, squirrel, hamster, monkey and guinea pig (McFadden, 1988, In "Virus diseases in laboratory and captive animals." Ed. G Darai . Martmus Nijhoff Publishing, Boston. pp36-62) . This laboratory has successfully cultured myxoma virus on RK13 (ATCC CLL-37), SIRC (ATCC CLL-60), CV1 (ATCC CLL-70) and VERO (ATCC CLL-81) cells. Attempts to generate productive infection of Human 143B (ATCC CRL-8303) , L-M (TK-) (ATCC CLL-1.3) or BHK-21 t -tsl3 (ATCC CRL-1632) were unsuccessful indicating they are non- permissive for viral replication. Studies have shown that infection of non-permissive culture cells with poxvirus can result in a block to virus DNA replication and thus late gene transcription and viral morphogenesis. Under these circumstances the is no switch from early to mtermed ate/late gene transcription therefore early genes continue to be transcribed and expressed resulting in an amplification of viral early proteins. Accordmgly, m a further aspect this invention resides in a method for producmg myxoma virus sialyltransferase comprising harvesting viral early proteins amplified in a cell line non-permissive for viral replication, and isolating said myxoma virus sialyltransferase. The myxoma virus sialyltransferase gene is transcribed during the early phase of infection, therefore infection of one of the above described non-permissive cell lines may result in an amplified sialyltransferase activity m the triton cell lysates compared to permissive cell viral infection. Accordmgly, cell cultures may be selected from those permissive for infection by myxoma, such as rabbit cells per se having essentially no endogenous expression of eukaryotic α2,3- sialyltransferase. However, it is envisaged that circumstances may provide for the use of other cell cultures such as the African green monkey cell line CV1 (ATCC CCL70) , permissive for the virus and further permissive as a negative control with Vaccinia virus. Additionally, it is envisaged that certain non permissive cell lines may be useful where the early-expression sialyltransferase product is produced on infection prior to inhibition of the virus. As used herein, the expression "having essentially no endogenous expression of eukaryotic α2, 3-sιalyltransferase" should be taken to means that the enzyme if produced endogenously the selected cells occurs m such mmute quantities that expression of the product enzyme of the invention effectively masks all detection. Additionally, it is preferred that the cells are selected for essentially no endogenous expression of other sialyltransferases. It has been surprisingly determmed that commercially useful titres of a polypeptide having α2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity are obtained lysates of m vitro infection and culture of cells, having little or no endogenous sialyltransferase expression, with myxoma virus. This unexpected result appears not to be subject to cellular inhibition, and the lysates are statistically substantially pure with respect to the target α2, 3-sιalyltransferase as opposed to competing enzymes of differing specificity such as cellularly mediated 2,6 sialyltransferases. Conventional wisdom would have it that the cultured cells should be those having endogenous expression of the enzyme, such as liver cells . In order that this mvention may be more readily understood and put to practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying examples and sequence listings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, described with reference to FIGS 1 to 5, wherein: FIG. 1 comprises the EcoRI restriction map of the myxoma virus genome, illustrating above the map the location of the sialyltranferase gene (MST3N) ; FIG. 2 is a fluorograph showing 'H-labelled sialylated fetuin following sialyltransferase and PNGaseF reactions, wherein the lysates correspond to lanes: 1) Vaccinia virus; 2) as 1 + PNGaseF; 3) vaccmia virus + 5 mUnits ST6N; 4) as 3 + PNGaseF; 5) myxoma virus; 6) as 5 + PNGaseF; 7) Lu (MST3NVlacZ ; 8) as 7 +PNGaseF. FIG. 3 comprises lectm binding assays wherein: Lanes 1 & 6. MYXV+ CMP-SA; Lanes 2 & 7 MYXV; Lanes 3 & 8 VACV +CMP- SA + ST6N; lane 4 & 9 VACV + CMP-SA; lane 5 & 10 VACV. A) lectm SNA-DIG & B) lect MAA-DIG; FIG. 4 shows lectm binding assay using MAA-DIG to extracts of poxvirus infected RK13 cells, wherein lanes are: 1) VACV +ST6N; 2) VACV; 3) SFV; 4) MSD; 5) MSW; 6) Lu, and FIG 5 comprises the Northern blot of myxoma virus Lu RNA. Sequence 1 comprises Myxoma virus MA51 and prote kinase (MBl) genes, partial eds, alpha-2, 3-sιalyltransferase (MST3N) , (MA52), (MA55) and (MA56) genes, and Sequence 2 comprises Myxoma virus (MA51) and (MA52) genes, partial eds, alpha-2, 3-sιalyltransferase (MST3N) gene, complete eds. EXAMPLE 1 Myxoma virus genomic restriction mapping and sub-cloning studies were conducted by Russell and published in Russell & Robbins (1989) Virology 170:147. The myxoma virus DNA contained with the clones was not characterised at either the nucleotide or genetic level, but have been a major source of myxoma virus material for the development of the present invention. The myxoma virus DNA clone used in this invention was derived from a laboratory derivative of the Uriarra strain, (Mykytowycz, (1953) Nature 172:448; Russell & Robbins, 1989) which is an Australian field derivative of the Standard Laboratory Strain (SLS, ATCC VR-116), itself derived from the Moses strain, which was released m Australia in 1950. The myxoma virus, strain Uriarra, EcoRI-G2 fragment was obtained from pUrE-G2 (Russel & Robbins, 1989) and subcloned mto pGem7Z(f-) (Promega Corporation) . The Sall-R2 fragment contained withm the EcoRI-G2 DNA fragment was subcloned into pGem3Z(f+) (Promege Corporation) and a partial DNA sequence determmed. The DNA sequence determmed contained a "unique" poxvirus gene/protem which when used to scan the GENBANK database using the BLASTp program with default parameters contained similarity to the human "CD75 antigen". The human gene was later found to actually encode an α2,6- sialyltransferase (ST6N) which is responsible for formation of the sialic acid-containmg CD75 antigen. (Stamenkovic et al.,1990, J.Exp.Med. 172:641; Bast et al.,1992, J.Cell.B ol. 116:423) The DNA sequence of the larger region of the EcoRI-G2 myxoma virus fragment which corresponds to the BamHI-N fragment plus the DNA sequence to the right-hand end of the EcoRI-G2 fragment was determmed. The myxoma virus genes encoded by this region are MA51 (partial sequence), MA51a (MST; α2,3- sialyltransferase) , MA52, MA55, MA56 (orthopoxvirus haemagglutmin related) and MBl (serine/threonme kinase related) . Five of these genes show nucleotide similarity to vaccinia virus, strain Copenhagen, genes A51 through Bl (Goebal et al, 1990 Virology 179:247), the sixth gene, MST3N, being a newly identified poxvirus gene showing similarity to eukaryotic sialyltransferases. Transcription analysis of the wild type Lausanne strain (Lu;ATCC VR-115: Bouvier, 1954, Bulletin de 1 'Office Internationai des Epizooites 46:76) MST3N gene was conducted essentially as described in Jackson & Bults, (1992, J Gen. Virol. 73:3241) . Both myxoma virus early and late 32 polyadenylated mRNA preparations were hybridized to a P labelled strand specific RNA probe for the MST gene. The autoradiograph was developed and demonstrated that the MST gene is transcribed early in infection giving a major transcript of approximately 1100 nucleotides. It appears that either the major MST early MRNA persists late in infection or transcription of the early promoter is re-mitiated during late infection as significant levels of MST early sized transcripts were still present during late phase of infection. A recombinant myxoma virus, Lu (MST-, LacZJ , was constructed using wild-type Lausanne strain, with the MST gene disrupted by insertion of the E.coli lacZ gene mto the region encoding the sialyl motif. This recombinant virus was constructed to demonstrate that the MST3N gene encoded a protem responsible for the sialyltransferase activity observed in cell lysates of wild-type virus. Triton detergent lysates of tissue culture cells infected with either vaccinia virus (strain wr;ATCC VR-119) , myxoma virus (strain Lu) or Lu (MST-,lacZj, were prepared and used m in vitro sialyltransferase reactions. These experiments demonstrated that the myxoma virus infected cells contained an easily detectable sialyltransferase active which transferred [H 3 ] - labelled sialic acid to the asialylated acceptor glycoprotein as determined by SDS-PAGE and fluorography using an overnight exposure. Vaccinia virus infected cells treated in an identical manner do not show detectable sialyltransferase activity. The myxoma virus sialyltransferase activity was abolished when the MST gene is disrupted, Lu (MST-, lacZ , demonstrating that the identified MST gene encodes a prote with sialyltransferase activity. These experiments also demonstrated that endogenous cellular sialyltransferase activity was below detection limits on overnight exposure of the fluorographs although very weak signals could be detected on extended exposure (4 days) . The experiments with the MST- recombmant myxoma virus also demonstrates that infection with myxoma virus does not induce increased cellular sialyltransferase activity. The nature of the myxoma virus sialyltransferase directed oligosaccharide linkage (0 or N linked) to the glycoprotein acceptor was determmed by treatment of the myxoma virus sialyltransferase [H3]-SA labelled glycoprotein acceptor with PNGase-F, which removes N-lmked oligosaccharide from protem substrates. Using this glycosidase all the [H 3 ] -labelled sialic acid was N-lmked but not O-lmked, as illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein lane 1 and 2 are vaccinia virus strain wr cell lysate, lanes 3 and 4 are vaccinia virus wr infected cell lysate plus 5 mUnits of α2, 6-sialyltransferase (ST6N) , lanes 5 and 6 are myxoma virus Lu infected cell lysate, and lanes 7 and 8 are recombinant myxoma virus Lu (MST-, lacZj infected cell lysate. Lanes 2, 4, 6 and 8 also mcluded 0.4 units of N- glycosidase-F. The nature of the type of sialic acid linkage (α2,3 or α2,6) was determmed by saturation labelling of asialylated glycoprotein acceptor with "cold" sialic acid using the myxoma virus cell extract and determining the type of linkage using digoxigenm labelled lectm binding assay, as per FIG.3, wherein: - Lanes 1 and 6: myxoma virus Lu infected cell lysate plus CMP-SA Lanes 2 and 7: myxoma virus Lu infected cell lysate without CMP-SA Lanes 3 and 8: vaccmia virus wr strain infected cell lysate plus 5 mUnits of α2,6- sialyltransferase (ST6N) plus CMP-SA Lanes 4 and 9: vaccmia virus wr strain infected cell lysate plus CMP-SA Lanes 5 and 10: vaccinia virus wr strain infected cell lysate without CMP-SA. Lanes 1 to 5 were treated with the lectm probe Sambucus nigra agglutmm (SNA), specific for α2,6 linked SA, while lanes 6 to 10 were probed with Maackia amurensis agglutmm (MAA) specific for α2, 3 linked SA. This demonstrated that the myxoma virus sialyltransferase specifically generates an α2,3 linkage to the glycoprotein acceptor. The above results taken with the ammo acid similarity to known sialyltransferases mdicates that the MST3N gene encodes an active α2,3 GalBl,3(4) GlcNAc-R sialyltransferase with a specificity for N-lmked glycoprotein (ST3N; EC: 2.4.99.6) . A) Identification of myxoma virus sialyltransferase gene DNA sequencing and plasmid construction The myxoma virus 7.3 kb £coRI-G2 DNA fragment located approximately 130 Kb from the left end of viral genome (figure 1) was sub-cloned m both orientations mto pGem7Z(f-) . A 4.7 kb of the DNA sequence was determmed which corresponds to the right-end of the £coRI-G2 fragment (see sequence listings) . The DNA sequence contains six open reading frames, five ORFs correspond to gene homologues (A51, A52, A55, A56 & Bl) found in vaccinia virus (an Orthopoxvirus) and the sixth ORF, MST3N, shares similarity to known sialyltransferases (table 3) . The MYXV Sall-R2 fragment was ligated mto the Sail site of pGem3Z(f+), generatmg pUrS-R2. The MYXV DNA fragment contained in pUrS-R2 was removed by digestion with EcoRI and H ndiII and ligated between the respective sites of the transient dominant selection vector pGP7.5gpt, generatmg pUrSTl. The MST3N gene sequences contained in pUrSTl were interrupted by the insertion mto the unique Bglll site, a cassette . B) Characterisation of the sialyltransferase activity Cells SIRC (European rabbit (Oryctolagus cumcul us) cornea, ATCC CCL- 60), RK13 ( 0. cumcul us kidney, ATCC CCL-37) and CV-1 (African Green Monkey (Ceropi thecus aethi ops) kidney, ATCC CCL-70) were maintained Minimal Essential Medium (MEM) supplemented with 5° (v/v) foetal bovine serum (FBS) . Viruses a) Brazilian MYXV strains, Lausanne (Lu) (ATCC VR-115) isolated Campinas, Brazil, 1949 and Uriarra (Ur) isolated Australian Capital Territory, 1953and is therefore a derivative of the Moses strain (ATCC VR-116) isolated Sao Paulo, Brazil 1909. b) Vaccmia virus (VACV) strain wr (ATCC VR-1354) . c) Recombinant myxoma virus Lu (MST3N " /lacZ + ) was constructed by liposome mediated transfection of Lu infected SIRC cells with pUrSTl- acZ and isolated using the transient dominant selection procedure as described previously. Triton Cell lysate preparation Confluent monolayers of CVl cells were infected with poxvirus at an M.O.I of 1, 80 cm' culture flasks. Twenty-four hours post- fection the cells were detached with PBS-EDTA at 37 " C and washed three times using PBS at 4 " C. Cell lysates were prepared by suspension in 1 ml per flask of 50 mM MES-OH, pH 6.1; 0.5% (v/v) Triton-XlOO; 100 mM NaCl; 1.5 mM MgCl 2 ; 0.1 mM PMSF; 10 μg/ml aprotinin and incubation at 4 " C for 45 mmutes. The lysate was clarified by centrifugation at 1750g at 4"C for 15 m utes. Supernatants were stored at -70 ° C. Total protein concentrations were measured using the BCA Protein Assay Reagent (Pierce) . Sialyltransferase reactions Cell lysates, 30μl (containing 50μg total prote ) , were mixed with 5μl of asialofetuin (Sigma Type-I; lOmg/ml m MES buffer [50 mM MES-OH, pH6.1; 0.5?, (v/v) Triton X-100] ) and 5 μl CMP- [ 3 H]-SA (DuPont NEN; dried and dissolved MES buffer at IμCi/μl) and incubated for 90 mmutes at 37 " C. Reactions were terminated by heating at 90 " C for 10 mmutes. An assay containing a vaccmia virus infected cell lysate sample was used as a negative control. A positive control consisted of the vaccmia virus infected cell lysate including 5 mUnits of α2, 6-sιalyltransferase (ST6N;EC:2.4.99.1; Boehrmger-Mannheim) . PNGase-F digestion : The total protem from the sialyltransferase reactions were precipitated usmg 8 volumes of acetone at -20 " C overnight and recovered by centrifugation for 30 mmutes using a microcentrifuge. Protem pellets were air dried and resuspended in 10 μl of H 2 0. The samples were denatured by the addition of 25 μl O.l M 2-Mercaptoethanol/ 0.5° o (w/v) SDS and heated at 100 "C for 5 m utes. Samples were cooled to room temperature and the total volume adjusted to 40μl with H_0. Denatured protem aliquotes of 5 μl were mixed with 5 μl PNGase-F buffer (2X) [40 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.2; 20 mM EDTA; 3? (w/v) CHAPS] . Reactions were initiated by the addition of 0.4 Units N-Glycosidase F (Boehringer-Mannheim) and incubated at 30 " C for 16 hours. The reactions were terminated by heating at 100 " C for 5 minutes. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography Samples containing approximately 6μg of the acceptor glycoprotein were separated by SDS-PAGE, fixed and stained within the gel. Flurographic detection of the labelled sialoglycoprotems (figure 2) was achieved by impregnating the stained gels with Amplify (Amersham) drying at 80 "C and exposure for 24 to 48 hours to pre-flashed Hyperfilm-MP (Amersham) . Determination of sialoglycoprotein by lectm binding For total "cold" sialylation of acceptor glycoprotein, triton lysates of viral infected cells (30μl) were mixed with 5μl of asialofetum (10 mg/ml) with/without lOμl of CMP-SA (10 mM; Sigma) and incubated at 37 " c for 24 hours. Glycoprotein samples (12 μg acceptor glycoprotein) were separated by SDS- PAGE and electrophoretically transferred to PVDF membrane. Determination of the bound SA linkage to glycoprotein acceptor was accomplished using the DIG Glycan Differentiation Kit (Boehrmger-Mannheim) , using DIG labelled lectms, Sambucus ni gra agglutmm (SNA; for 2, 6 linked SA) and Maackia amurensi s agglutmm (MAA; for 2,3 linked SA) as recommended by the manufacturer (figure 3) . Sialyltransferase activity of other leporipoxviruses (Californian myxoma viruses MS San Francisco; MSD San Diago; SFV-OA Shope Fibroma virus Oπgional A strain) were analysed using the lectm binding assay as described above. All viruses express a similar sialyltransferase activity to Brazilian myxoma virus (fxgure 4), indicating that expression of an active "2,3 sialyltransferase is representative of the genus. c) Determination of time of maximal sialyltransferase expression Confluent (25 cm ) RK13 cells were infected at an multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5 with MYXV strain Lu and incubated at 33"C. At 10, 17 24 and 48 hours post infection, triton cell extracts (300μl) were prepared as described above. Sialyltransferase activity (using fluorescence assay below) appears to be maximal between 24 and 48 hours post infection and coincides with maximal cytopathic effect (data not shown) . Sialyltransferase assays were performed using CMP-9- fluorescemyl-SA (Boehringer Mannheim) as donor in 20μl buffer (50mM MES pH6.1; 0.1 Triton X-100 containing CMP-9- fluresceinyl-SA, 20uM; acceptor glycoproten asialofetu (Sigma) 1.5 mg/ml) at 37 " C for 15 minutes. Reaction were terminated by the addition of 4μl of O.lM CTP. Labelled acceptor glycoprotein was separated from unincorporated donor by Sepadex G-50 gel filtration (NICK Spin columns; Pharmacia) using O.lM Tris pH8.6 as elution buffer. The extent of labelling of glycoprotein was determined using a CytoFluor II Fluorescence Reader (PerSeptive Biosystems) and 96 well plates. d) Estimation of sialyltransferase activity Ten 180cm 2 flasks of confluent RK13 cells were infected at a MOI of 5 with Lu and harvested at 24 hrs PI when 100% CPE was evident. A triton cell extract (total 20ml containing 3. lmg total protem/ml isolated from 1.83 g of wet cells) were prepared as described above and used for a fluorescence sialyltransferase assay. A commercially available sialyltransferase (α2, 6-sιalyltransferase EC:2.4.99.1 Boehringer Mannheim 83361420-10, 31 Jul 97) was used as a control to determine relative sialyltransferase activity. Relative sialyltransferase activities: Samples (lOμl) were used reactions standardised to include 25 μg of total protein (RK13 cell lysate) in a 25μl volume. Raw data [CytoFluor II Fluorescence Reader (PerSeptive Biosystems) ] Excitation 485: Emission 530: Gam 51 Data analysed and concentrations determined using Microplate Manager II (V3.0) (BioRad) Sample: Cytofluor reading Blanks: 74 average ST6N standards: 8U/mg enzyme activity at 37 " C with CMP-N- acteylneuramic acid as substrate (approx. 2.5U/mg enzyme at 37 " C with CMP-9 (3-flurescemyl-thioureido) -9-deoxy-N-acteyl- neurammic acid as donor) : units below are predicted activities of diluted enzyme relative towards CMP-SA. 100 μUnits: 1231/1140 50 μUnits: 583/537 25 μUnits: 309/283 Unknowns : Uninfected RK13 cells lOμl neat sample (25μg protein) : 99/86 = 0.9 μUnits sialyltransferase MYXV infected RK13 cells lOμl of 1:10 dilution ( 3.17μg prote ) no glycoprotein acceptor: 111/103 ( activity to wards endogenous acceptors in RK13 lysate) . MYXV infected RK13 cells lOμl samples 1:10 dilution (3.17 μg prote ) : 1332/1141 = 105.7 μUnits sialyltransferase 1:20 dilution (1.59 μg protem) : 777/749 = 65.4 μUnits sialyltransferase Relative specific activities RK13 cells: 0.9μUmts/25μg = 0.036 mU/mg total protem (probably an over estimate) MYXV infected RK13 cells 65.4 μUmts/l.δμg - 40.9 mU/mg total protein Total sialyltransferase activity in 20 ml lysate contains 2.596 Units m 63.48 mg total protem isolated from 1.83g of wet cells. Wemstem estimated that a rat liver (3.2 kg starting material) triton extract (20.8 litres; 68.5 g total prote ) contained 9.9 units (specific activity 0.145 mUnits/mg) of α2, 3-sιalyltransferase (EC: 2.4.99.6) . Conclusion The myxoma virus and other members of the Lepoπpoxvirus genus encode a gene which belongs to the sialyltransferase family (ie it contams a sialyl motif CMP-SA binding site) being most closely related to the α2,3 Galβl-3(4) GlcNAc sialyltransferase (EC: 2.4.99.6) . The myxoma virus MST3N gene encodes a protem of predicted MW of 33.3 kDa (non-glycosylated) being one of the smallest known sialyltransferase proteins. Basic characterisation of the sialyltransferase activity indicates that the enzyme has an α2,3 sialyltransferase activity towards N-glycan of giycoproteins suggesting an α2,3 Galβl,3(4) GlcNAc sialyltransferase activity. Activity towards glycolipid acceptors has not been tested. Tissue culture cells infected with myxoma virus produce significant amounts of sialyltransferase activity by 24 hours post infection producmg approximately a 280-fold specific activity than estimated can be obtained from rat the normal source of enzyme isolation. The relatively high level of expression and absence of other detectable sialyltransferase activities enables convenient purification by affinity chromatography using Cibacron Blue F3GA-Sepharoseand/or CDP-agarose. EXAMPLE 2 Identification of candidate Poxvirus was undertaken using the set of degenerate primers: CAP-I GGGATCCAT[A/T/C]TC[T/C]AG[A/G]CA[T/C]AA[A/G]CG CAP-11 GGGATCCGC[A/G]CA[T/C]AA[A/T/C/G]CC[T/G/A]ATCAT PCR-Reaction usmg Pfu polymerase (Stratagene) in lOOμl total volume Poxvirus DNA (approximately 5ng) lxPfu polymerase buffer (Stratagene) CAP-I luM CAP-11 luM NTP mixture lOOμM each Pfu polymerase 2.5 Units (Stratagene) 30 cycles 94°C, 20 seconds 45°C, 1 mmute 72°C, 30 seconds final extension at 72°C for 5 mmutes EXAMPLE 3 Scale-up and purification of the myxoma virus sialyltransferase Stocks of myxoma virus, Lu, can be prepared on RK13 cells to titres of approximately IO 7 pfu/ml. If necessary concentrated viral stocks (10 8 -10 9 pfu/ml) can be prepared by ultra-centrifugation of virus and re-suspension an appropriate volume. Confluent roller bottle cultures of the most optimum cell type for sialyltransferase expression can be infected at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 or greater. Twenty-four to 48 hours post infection the cells can be harvested, washed in PBS and lysed using a Triton-MES buffer as described in the mvention. Affinity purification and concentration of the sialyltransferase may be performed by any suitable means known to the art, and in the present example by using a combination of CIBACRON BLUE 3GA-Sepharose 6B (Sticher et al, 1988, Biochem J 253:577) and CDP-Sepharose (Paulson et al, 1977, J Biol Chem, 252:2356) affinity chromatography. It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled the art are deemed to fall with the broad scope and ambit of this invention as defmed the claims appended hereto. SEQUENCE LISTINGS 1 . Myxoma virus MA51 and protein kinase (MBl) genes, partial eds, alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase (MST3N), (MA52), (MA55) and (MA56) genes GenBank flat file LOCUS MVU46577 4713 bp DNA VRL 01-JAN-1999 DEFINITION Myxoma virus MA51 and protein kinase (MB 1 ) genes, partial eds, alpha-2, 3 -sialyltransferase (MST3N), (MA52), (MA55) and (MA56) genes, complete eds ACCESSION U46577 KEYWORDS SOURCE Myxoma virus strain=Uriarra ORGANISM Myxoma virus Viruses, dsDNA viruses, no RNA stage, Poxviridae, Chordopoxvirinae, Leporipoxvirus REFERENCE 1 (bases 1 to 4713) AUTHORS Jackson,R J and HalLD F TITLE Direct Submission JOURNAL Submitted (21 -JAN- 1996) Ronald J Jackson, CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology, PO Box 84, Lyneham, ACT 2602, Australia FEATURES Location/Qualifiers source 1 4713 /organιsm="Myxoma virus" /strain="Uriarra, is an Australian field isolate and is therefore a derivative of the Standard Laboratory Strain which was derived from the Moses strain (ATCC VR-116)" CDS <1 549 /not e=" Vaccinia virus A51R homolog; Method conceptual translation supplied by author " /codon_start= 1 /product="MA51 " /translation^ "GSNVVVSVALFEEAEGPRWLLRTIHNGGVIISRHKRL HKELPSQDWFSFYVEVFHCYTSVIYAWDGAVLYANA DYKTHCTISDGRRHREDVTDDCLCCHVSPQIRTFGTQ VMENVECRVVRDGLCIEIKHVGKFGASCVGAYNTRYI KIAIGSVYDIILKQDGMSGKKRHSCYVYGITRR" CDS complement(583..1455) /gene="MST3N" /EC_number="2.4.99.6" /note="Gal beta 1-3(4) GlcNAc alpha-2, 3 -sialyltransferase; sialyltransferase; Method: conceptual translation supplied by author." /codon_start= 1 /product^ " alpha-2 , 3 - sialyltransferase" /translation^ "MYFFKRCTMVYACTAVALFVMSLKMSWNHGTNNV SVTNVFVTHNNTFERRLPYGLKGEEAQIRRLLEKIPGH LPNFLL YGKQCI VVGN S Y LHNRSLGRIIDSYNWFRL NDAPVRAFERDVGTKTTIRMFYPESAQSDSVKENDNT TLFVMVPFKSADLYWLYNMLTNNARVDLSRFWKKPP RTWRARPAFVRILHPKYTYDAALRIQTTSGTLHVPTM GMVALVTALHVCQGVTITGFGYPNGGPNQFIHYYNG YTMRAMQNSIHDVNAEKTIIERMIQNKTILCIR" CDS 1515..2081 /gene="MA52" /note="Vaccinia virus A52R homolog; Method: conceptual translation supplied by author." /codon_start=l /product="MA52" /translation= "MSNYVKFDVSIEDDCINITVSNTSLPIHVKTVPKRTHR DNYVFKNTIDASDDIVSILHNYTWYRGFIGLPNKYGRV FKELKLFDIDAKTKYGDINTLFFMLNLNSDRCCRNFFN FVTLQKTIFKHTVTVYNCIEMIGLCALVAEQWKNNNK CLNWRIWDEMFRFIDPDMLEKIRTVLQERLAYEDLS" CDS 2084. 3745 /gene="MA55" /note=" Vaccinia virus A55R homolog, Method conceptual translation supplied by author " /codon start= 1 /product="MA55" /translation^ "MTGRYAIRLLESIRNLQDKTTLCDVTLVTDDDVSIHA HKLILSASSTYFEYMFSHDFIEKDRNVINVCVEYRALL HLINFIYSGTLRLTDDTVDCILVAADYLQILEASELAEN FILARLRΛENCLHYYEFSKRYNRRHTFNVVITTIIHNIVS VLRQPNFKTIELCDLQNILSSDDLNVIDEDVCAVVLVT WLKQNNMEDCPSVLLEQVRMSLLSMSVKNLLLKTPCI RNKRYVQSLAKLDHSPRPPTQGCILSIGGRKYYDDITS SPVELYSPVDDVWTTVSYLPTHRQFFSVAVLDFVVYV VGGLQDSVSVASVSSYDVKTNEWKECPPLKSPRHGCG LVVLRDKLIVIGGKGRNSYLKDVDYWRPTYATWRKL CSLREARTNVGAAVVRNKVYTIGGIRSVEEPSRLECID TVECLQNNKWVAKKSLPEPKACLAVAPYKHFIYAAG GYAINGRGTWTKTNTLYMYNVELDDWFYLPMMELS RNDASLCVLGKDLYVVGGFVGSGYTNSVEKY HKTN NWERIIPCKSPKYGHCSVVLNHECPWKHLR" CDS 3778 4434 /gene="MA56" /note="related to Vaccinia virus A56R hemagglutinin gene, member of immunoglobulin family, related to mouse IL-1 receptor type II, Method conceptual translation supplied by author " /codon_start=l /product="MA56" /translation^ "MRVLSILALLSTVAYAYSVRCTNTTTVAEHVNVTISC NKTSSSSSLFHLITWKKNNETTIAGYGPSGATIKDASKI EYLSTGYNTSTILIKNVSAEDSGLYYCIFNSFSTEPSEE GTVRVNVTTSSATTTLQQPQPQALRTTRGRSTNRSTSR HVSRTSTHHVGDGSLTVETRQYKYSSSSSSSSSSWTSS AGSRNVPSLFKLIFVIKMIFYIPNLIG" CDS <4440..4713 /gene="MBl " /note=" Vaccinia virus B1R homolog; Ser/Thr protein kinase homolog; Method: conceptual translation supplied by author." /codon_start=l /product="protein kinase" /translation= "MSKRNEIEPGDVLIDASKREWVLGDILGKGGFGYIYT ARLCSEEEFDKYVIKIEPKSNGPLFVEQVFYQRVGKTD MVTDWCKKNNLPYLGΓ BASE COUNT 1376 a 1012 c 1 101 g 1224 t ORIGIN 1 ggatccaacg tcgtcgtatc tgtggcgttg ttcgaagaag cggaggggcc tcgggttccg 61 ttactcagaa cgattcacaa cggaggcgtt attatctcca gacataaacg gttgcataag 121 gaactcccca gtcaagattg gttttctttt tacgtggaag tattccactg ctacacttcc 181 gtgatatacg cggtagttga cggagccgtt ctatacgcaa acgccgatta caaaacacat 241 tgtacgataa gcgatggccg acgacatagg gaagacgtta cggacgattg tctgtgttgt 301 cacgtatctc ctcaaattcg tacgttcggt acacaggtaa tggagaacgt agagtgtcgg 361 gtggtacggg atggtttatg tatcgaaata aaacacgtgg gaaaattcgg agcatcgtgc 421 gtaggtgcgt ataatacgcg gtatataaaa atagcgatag ggtcggtgta cgatatcatt 481 ctaaaacagg acgggatgtc cggaaagaag cgacatagtt gctacgtgta cggaatcacc 541 cgacggtagg cttgcgaaat agtgtattgt tttttatcag agttagcgta tacaaaggat 601 cgtcttattt tggatcatac gttcgatgat cgttttctcc gcgtttacgt cgtgaatgga 661 gttttgcatg gcacgcatag tatagccgtt gtaataatgg ataaattggt taggcccccc 721 attggggtac ccgaatcccg taatcgttac gccctggcac acgtgtaacg cggtcacgag 781 cgcgaccatt cccatcgtag gaacgtgcaa cgttccggac gttgtctgta tacgcaacgc 841 cgcatcgtac gtatatttcg gatgtaggat tcgtacgaac gccggacgcg cgcgccacgt 901 gcgaggcggt ttcttccaaa atctagacag gtcgacgcgt gcgttgttcg taagcatgtt 961 atatagccag tataagtcgg cggacttgaa cggaaccatt acaaacagcg tcgtattatc 1021 gttttctttc acggaatccg attgggcgga ttccgggtag aacatacgta tcgtcgtttt 1081 tgtcccaacg tctcgttcga aggcacgaac gggagcgtcg tttaaccgaa acaccacgtt 1141 gtacgagtcg atgattcgtc ctaaagatct attgtgtaag ttataactat ttcctacgac 1201 gatacattgt ttgccgtata agaggaaatt aggaagatgt ccaggaatct tttctaacag 1261 acgacgtatc tgcgcttcct ctccttttag cccgtacggt aaacgtcttt cgaacgtatt 1321 attgtgggtt acaaatacgt ttgtgacgga tacgttgttc gttccgtggt ttaccacgga 1381 cattttcaac gacattacga acaacgcaac tgcggtacat gcgtacacca tcgtgcatcg 1441 tttaaagaaa tacatatcgc agaagcaaga ttttttttgt gttttagtct acccaacgta 1501 cgcgatagaa cactatgagc aactacgtaa agttcgacgt atcgatcgaa gatgactgta 561 tcaatataac ggtcagtaac actagtttac ccatccacgt aaagaccgtc cccaaacgca 621 cacatcggga caattacgtg tttaaaaaca ctatagacgc ctcggacgat atcgtctcta 1681 tcctacacaa ctatatatgg tacagaggat ttataggtct gccgaacaaa tacggtaggg 1741 tgttcaaaga actaaagctc ttcgacatcg acgcaaagac caaatacgga gatataaata 1801 ctttattttt catgttaaat ttaaactcgg atcgttgctg caggaatttt ttcaatttcg 1861 taacactaca aaaaactata ttcaaacaca cggttaccgt atacaactgc atcgaaatga 1921 taggattatg tgccctggtg gcggaacaat ggaaaaataa taacaaatgt ttaaattggc 1981 gtatcgtagt agatgaaatg tttaggttca tcgaccctga catgttagaa aagatcagaa 2041 cggtactcca agaacgattg gcgtacgagg acctgtcgta acaatgacgg gtcgttacgc 2101 catccggttg ttagaatcca ttagaaattt acaggataag accaccttat gcgacgttac 2161 gttagttacg gacgatgatg tgtctataca tgcgcataaa cttatcttgt ccgcgtcttc 2221 tacgtatttc gaatatatgt tttcgcacga ctttatagaa aaagacagaa acgtaataaa 2281 cgtgtgtgtc gaatatcgtg ccttgttgca cctaatcaat tttatatact caggaacctt 2341 acgtttgacg gatgatacgg tggactgtat tctagtagcc gccgattacc tacagatact 2401 agaggcgagt gaattggcgg aaaactttat actcgcccgt ctaagagcgg agaattgcct 2461 ccattactac gaattttcca aacgttacaa cagacgacat atattcaacg tggtaatcac 2521 gacgattata cacaacatcg tcagtgtgtt aagacaaccc aattttaaga ccatcgagtt 2581 atgcgatctg cagaatatat tatccagcga cgatttaaac gtgatagacg aggatgtatg 2641 cgccgtcgtc ttagtcacct ggttgaagca aaacaacatg gaagattgcc catccgtttt 2701 actggaacaa gtacggatgt cgttactctc aatgtctgtg aaaaaccttc tactaaaaac 2761 cccttgcata cgtaataaac gatacgtaca gtctctcgcc aaattagacc attcccctag 2821 acctcccact caggggtgta tcctgtcgat agggggtcgt aaatactacg acgatatcac 2881 gtccagtccc gtagaattgt attctcccgt ggacgacgta tggacgaccg tgtcctactt 294 accaacgcac cgacagttct ttagcgtcgc cgtattggat tttgtcgtat acgtcgtggg 300 tgggttacag gacagtgtat ccgtcgcgtc cgtgtccagt tacgacgtaa agacgaacga 306 atggaaagag tgtcctcctc ttaaaagtcc ccgacacggg tgcggattag tggtcttgcg 312 agacaaactg atagtgatag gaggaaaagg aagaaactcc tatctgaaag acgtcgacta 318 ctggagaccg acgtacgcca cgtggagaaa actgtgctct ctccgcgagg cgaggacgaa 324 cgtgggagcc gccgtcgtac gcaacaaagt ctatacaata ggcgggatac gtagcgtcga 330 ggaaccgagt cgattggaat gcatcgatac cgtagagtgt ttacagaaca acaaatgggt 336 cgcgaagaag tcgttacccg aaccaaaggc ctgtttggcc gtggcgcctt acaaacattt 342 catttacgcg gcgggtggat acgccatcaa cggcaggggc accgtcgtta ctaaaacgaa 348 cacgttgtac atgtataacg tggaattgga cgactggttt tacctaccta tgatggagct 354 gtctagaaac gacgcgtctc tctgtgtgtt aggtaaagac ctctacgttg tagggggttt 360 tgtaggatcg ggatacacaa attccgtgga aaaatacaac cacaagacca ataattggga 366 acgaattata ccatgtaaat cgcccaagta cggacactgt tccgtcgtgt taaaccacga 372 gtgcccttgg aaacatctgc gctaaaaact aaaatataac gcggaagaag agagacgatg 378 cgtgtgttaa gtattttagc gttattatct acagtagcct acgcttactc cgttcgctgt 384 acaaatacaa cgacggtagc cgaacatgta aacgttacta ttagttgcaa taaaactagc 390 agtagtagta gtttgttcca tcttataacg tggaaaaaaa ataatgaaac gactatagcg 396 gggtacggac caagtggcgc aaccattaaa gatgcgagca aaatagagta tttatccact 402 ggatacaaca cgtccactat cttgataaaa aatgtaagcg cggaagatag cggactttac 408 tactgtatat tcaactcgtt ctctaccgaa cctagcgaag aaggaacggt acgggtaaac 414 gtaacgacat ctagtgcaac gactacttta caacaacctc aacctcaggc tttacgaacg 420 acccgtggtc gatcgactaa tcgatcgacg tcgcgtcacg tatcgcgtac ctcgacgcat 426 cacgtaggtg acggatcctt aacggtggaa acgagacagt ataaatactc atcttcgtcc 432 tcttcctcat cctccagctg gacgagtagc gcaggatctc gtaacgtacc gagcttattt 438 aaactcattt tcgtaataaa aatgattttt tatatcccaa atttaatcgg ataaatacta 444 tgtcaaaacg aaacgaaata gaaccagggg acgtgttaat cgatgcatcg aaacgggaat 450 gggtactcgg ggacattttg ggaaagggtg ggtttggata catttacacg gcccgtttgt 456 gttcggaaga ggaatttgac aaatacgtta taaaaataga accgaaaagt aacggtccct 462 tgttcgtaga acaggtgttt tatcaacggg tgggtaaaac cgacatggtc acggactggt 468 gtaagaaaaa taacttaccg tatttgggaa ttc 2. Myxoma virus (MA51) and (MA52) genes, partial eds, alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase (MST3N) gene, complete eds LOCUS MVU46578 1806 bp DNA VRL 01-JAN-1999 DEFINITION Myxoma virus (MA51 ) and (MA52) genes, partial eds, alpha-2, 3 -sialyltransferase (MST3N) gene, complete eds ACCESSION U46578 KEYWORDS SOURCE Myxoma virus strain=Lausanne ORGANISM Myxoma virus Viruses, dsDNA viruses, no RNA stage; Poxviridae, Chordopoxvirinae, Leporipoxvirus REFERENCE 1 (bases 1 to 1806) AUTHORS Jackson,R J and Hall, D F TITLE Direct Submission JOURNAL Submitted (21 -JAN- 1996) Ronald J Jackson, CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology, PO Box 84, Lyneham, ACT 2602, Australia FEATURES Location/Qualifiers source 1 1806 /organism="Myxoma virus" /strain="Lausanne (ATCC VR-1 15)" CDS <1 439 /gene="MA51 " /note=" Vaccinia virus A51R homolog, Lu allele, Method conceptual translation supplied by author " /codon_start=2 /product="MA51" /translation= "LHKELPSQDWFSFYVEVFHCYTSVIYAVVDGAVLYA NADYKTHCTISDDRRHREDVTDDCLCCHVSPQIRTFG TQVMENVECRVVRDGLCIEIKHVGKFGASCVGAYNT RYTKIAIGSVYDIILKQDGMSGKKRHSCYVYGIARR" CDS complement(473 1345) /gene="MST3N" /EC_number="2 4 99 6" /note="Gal beta 1-3(4) GlcNAc alpha-2,3- sialyltransferase, Lu allele, Method: conceptual translation supplied by author " /codon_start=l /product="alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase" /translation= "MYFFKRCTMVYACTAVALFVMSLKMSWNHGTNNV SVTNVFVTHNNTFERRLPYGLKGEEAQIRRLLEKIPGH LPNFLLYGKQCIVVGNSYNLHNRSLGRΠDSYDVVFRL NDAPVRAFERDVGTKTTIRMFYPESAQSDSVKENDNT TLFVMVPFKSADLYWLY MLTNNARVDLSRFWKKPP RTWRARPAFVRILHPKYTYDAALRIQTTSGTLHVPTM GMVALVTALHVCQGVTITGFGYPNGGPNQFIHYYNG YTMRAMQNSIHDVNAEKTIIERMIQNKTILCIR" CDS 1405 1806 /gene="MA52" /note="Vaccinia virus A52R homolog, Lu allele, Method conceptual translation supplied by author " /codon_start=l /product="MA52" /translation= "MSNY\T FDVSffiDDCINITVSNTSLPIHVKTVPKRTHR DNYVFKNTIDASDDIVSILHNYTWΎRGFIGLPNKYGRV F K E L K L F D I D A K T K Y G D I N T L F F M L N LNSDRCCRNFSNFVTLQKTIFKHTVTVYNCIE" BASE COUNT 505 a 391 c 417 g 493 t ORIGIN 1 gttgcataag gaactcccca gtcaagattg gttttctttt tacgtggaag tattccactg 61 ctacacttcc gtgatatacg cggtagttga cggagccgtt ctatacgcaa acgccgatta 121 caaaacacat tgtacgataa gcgatgaccg acgacatagg gaagacgtta cggacgattg 181 tctgtgttgt cacgtatctc ctcaaattcg tacgttcggt acacaggtaa tggagaacgt 241 agagtgtcgg gtggtacggg atggtttatg tatcgaaata aaacacgtgg gaaaattcgg 301 agcatcgtgc gtaggtgcgt ataatacgcg gtatataaaa atagcgatag ggtcggtgta 361 cgatatcatt ctaaaacagg acgggatgtc cggaaagaag cgacatagtt gctacgtgta 421 cggaatcgcc cgacggtagg cttgcgaaat agtgtattgt tttttatcag agttagcgta 481 tacaaaggat cgtcttattt tggatcatac gttcgatgat cgttttctcc gcgtttacgt 541 cgtgaatgga gttttgcatg gcacgcatag tatagccgtt gtaataatgg ataaattggt 601 taggcccccc attggggtac ccgaatcccg taatcgttac gccctggcac acgtgtaacg 661 cggtcacgag cgcgaccatt cccatcgtag gaacgtgcaa cgttccggac gttgtctgta 721 tacgcaacgc cgcatcgtac gtatatttcg gatgtaggat tcgtacgaac gccggacgcg 781 cgcgccacgt gcgaggcggt ttcttccaaa atctagacag gtcgacgcgt gcgttgttcg 841 taagcatgtt atatagccag tataagtcgg cggacttgaa cggaaccatt acaaacagcg 901 tcgtattatc gttttctttc acggaatccg attgggcgga ttccgggtag aacatacgta 961 tcgtcgtttt tgtcccaacg tctcgttcga aggcacgaac gggagcgtcg tttaaccgaa 1021 acaccacgtc gtacgagtcg atgattcgtc ctaaagatct attgtgtaag ttataactat 1081 ttcctacgac gatacattgt ttgccgtata agaggaaatt aggaagatgt ccaggaatct 1 141 tttctaacag acgacgtatc tgcgcttcct ctccttttag cccgtacggt aaacgtcttt 1201 cgaacgtatt attgtgggtt acaaatacgt ttgtgacgga tacgttgttc gttccgtggt 1261 ttaccacgga cattttcaac gacattacga acaacgcaac tgcggtacat gcgtacacca 1321 tcgtgcatcg tttaaagaaa tacatatcgc agaagcaaga ttttttttgt gttttagtct 1381 acccaacgta cgcgatagaa cactatgagc aactacgtaa agttcgacgt atcgatcgaa 1441 gatgactgta tcaatataac ggtcagtaac actagtttac ccatccacgt aaagaccgtc 1501 cccaaacgca cacatcggga caattacgtg tttaaaaaca ctatagacgc ctcggacgat 1561 atcgtctcta tcctacacaa ctatatatgg tacagaggat ttataggtct gccgaacaaa 1621 tacggtaggg tgttcaaaga actaaagctc ttcgacatcg acgcaaagac caaatacgga 1681 gatataaata ctttattttt catgttaaat ttaaactcgg atcgttgctg caggaatttt 1741 tccaatttcg taacactaca aaaaactata ttcaaacaca cggttaccgt atacaactgc 1801 atcgaa

Claims: CLAIMS : - 1. A method of preparation of lysates having 2,3- sialyltransferase activity including the steps of: infecting a cell culture having essentially no endogenous expression of eukaryotic 2, 3-sιalyltransferase with a poxviral agent having an endogenous 2, 3-sιalyltransferase gene, and a promoter therefor, and harvesting a lysate of said infected cell culture containing a protein having 2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity. 2. A method accordance with Claim 1, and being for producmg myxoma virus sialyltransferase, comprising harvesting viral early proteins amplified in a cell line non-permissive for viral replication, and isolating said myxoma virus sialyltransferase. 3. A method in accordance with Claim 1 or claim 2, where said cell line is selected from RK13 cells and CVl cells. 4. A method accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said sialyltransferase is purified chromatographically. 5. Compositions havmg in vitro 2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity and comprising a protem extract of lysates of a eukaryote cell culture, havmg substantially no endogenous expression of eukaryotic α2, 3-sιalyltransferase, cultured with a poxviral agent including a gene and promoter expressing said culture a protem having eukaryotic 2, 3-sιalyltransferase activity, said lysates being produced accordance with the method of any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3. 6. 2, 3-sιalyltransferase produced by chromatographic purification of the compositions of claim 5. 7. A method for producmg myxoma virus sialyltrans erase comprising harvesting viral early proteins amplified in a cell line non-permissive for viral replication, and isolating said myxoma virus sialyltransferase. 8. The set of degenerate primers: CAP-I GGGATCCAT[A/T/C]TC[T/C]AG[A/G]CA[T/C]AA[A/G]CG CAP-11 GGGATCCGC[A/G]CA[T/C]AA[A/T/C/G]CC[T/G/A]ATCAT 9. The DNA sequence idendified by accession No.U46577 (Genbank) and as described m the sequence listing thereof hereinbefore described. 10. The DNA sequence idendified by accession No.U46578 (Genbank) and as described in the sequence listing thereof hereinbefore described.

Inventors: JACKSON RONALD JAMES, JACKSON, RONALD, JAMES;
Applicants: COMMW SCIENT IND RES ORG, JACKSON RONALD JAMES, COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH OR, JACKSON, RONALD, JAMES;
Application year: 1996
Main classification: C12N9
IPC codes: C12N5, C12N9, C12N15, C12R1