Alteration of a single amino acid in the basic domain of Marek's disease virus Meq oncoprotein plays an important role in T-cell transformation

Authors: REDDY, SANJAY - Texas A&M University; SUN, AIJUN - Texas A&M University; KHAN, OWAIS - Texas A&M University; Lee, Lucy; LUPIANI, BLANCA - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: American Association of Avian Pathologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2011
Publication Date: 7/16/2011
Citation: Reddy, S.M., Sun, A., Khan, O., Lee, L.F., Lupiani, B. 2011. Alteration of a single amino acid in the basic domain of Marek's disease virus Meq oncoprotein plays an important role in T-cell transformation [CD-ROM]. American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention, July 16-19, 2011, St. Louis, Missouri. Paper No. 11064.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Marek’s disease virus encoded oncoprotein, Meq, has been shown to play a major role in transformation of T-lymphocytes. We have earlier shown that replacement of the meq gene in the very virulent strain Md5 with that of vaccine strain CVI988/Rispens resulted in virus attenuation in chickens. To determine the role of individual amino acid residues in the transformation of T-lymphocytes in chicken, we generated a mutant rMd5 virus in which amino acid residue at position 71 was changed from alanine to serine (A71S). This recombinant virus replicated in vitro to levels similar to parental rMd5 virus; however, it was shown to be poorly oncogenic in chickens suggesting amino acid alanine at position 71 in the DNA binding domain of the Meq protein plays an important role in Marek’s disease oncogenesis.