Characterization of immediate early genes expressed in chlorovirus infection.

By Southern blot analysis of restriction fragments of a chlorovirus CVK2 genomic contig with probes of RNA expressed immediate early in infection, sixteen genes were specifically found to be expressed in the host cells. These genes include those for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, nucleolin, ribosomal protein S5, hyaluronan synthase, TFIID etc. All of these transcripts were polyadenylated and most likely expressed in the host nucleus. The structural characteristics of these genes are discussed in connection with their expression mechanism. The biological importance of the gene products in viral infection are also considered.