Expression of human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase in insect cells using baculovirus expression system: Purification and biochemical characterizations

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA polymerase gene was overexpressed in insect cells using the baculovirus transfer system. A6. 2 kb HCMV Rsr II-EcoRI DNA fragment with intact HCMV pol gene coding sequence was engineered into NheI site of vector pBlueBac under the control of polyhedrin promoter of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV). Recombinant AcNPV carried HCMV pol gene was generated by cotransfection of Spodoptera frugiperta cell (SF21) with AcNPV DNA and baculovirus transfer vector with HCMV pol gene. Infection of SF21 cell with recombinant virus lead to the expression of 140 kD peptide of HCMV specific DNA polymerase at the level approximately 2 mg per 10⁸ cells. The polypeptide was purified from the infected SF21 cells by a series of column chromatography to homogeneity. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 140 kD and reacted with antiserum specific for HCMV DNA polymerase. It exhibited both 3′–5′ and 5′–3′ exonuclease activities. This enzyme is also sensitive to phosphono acetate. Ye Linbai: born in Feb. 1948. Professor. Current research interest is in Vitology and Molecular Biology Supported by Public Health Service Grants CA21773, CA15036 and AI12717 from the National Institutes of Health