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Comparative analysis of putative mRNA export factors encoded by the UL69 homologous genes of betaherpesvirinae Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), the betaherpesviral prototype, has still to be considered as an important, ubiquitous pathogen causing severe and even fatal pathologies in immunosuppressed patients and newborns. In order to define novel targets for anti-cytomegaloviral drugs, current research focuses on the interaction of HCMV with its host cell, thus giving insight into regulatory processes during infection. In this context, the pleiotropic transactivator protein pUL69 has been identified as an important factor which mediates the nuclear export of intronless herpesviral mRNAs. Even though pUL69 counterparts can be found in every herpesvirus sequenced so far, it is quite surprising that functional analyses of pUL69 identified several protein motifs with only minor sequence conservation within homologous proteins of alpha- and gammaherpesviruses. My project will aim at a further detailed investigation of UL69-homologous proteins encoded by members of the betaherpesvirinae and thereby will contribute to identify conserved functions and protein motifs within this protein family. Ultimately, the comparative analysis of these putative, betaherpesviral mRNA export factors should help to understand the functional mechanisms, how these viral proteins are able to access and manipulate the cellular machinery for nuclear RNA export. |
Barbara Zielke , Erlangen |