Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2009 Dec;16(2):199-204.

Genetic Variation in the Immunoregulatory Gene of Adenovirus Type 3

• Choi EH
• Kim HS
• Lee HJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
Various proteins encoded in the early region 3 (E3) of adenoviruses protect cells from being killed by cytotoxic T cells and death-inducing cytokines. We sought to find out whether the genetic heterogeneity of the E3 gene might contribute to the molecular diversity of adenoviruses.
METHODS
Sequences in the E3 region were analyzed for 14 adenovirus type 3 (Ad3) strains that were isolated from children with lower respiratory tract infections in the Seoul National University Children's Hospital during the period 1991-2000. Full-length adenoviral DNA was purified from the infected A549 cell lysates using a modified Hirt procedure.
RESULTS
There was 98% homology between 14 Korean Ad3 strains with a reference strain (M15952). Homology within the Korean Ad3 strains was 98.7%. Variation was found in the region of transcripts 20.1 kDa, 20.6 kDa, truncated 7.7 kDa, 10.3 kDa, 14.9 kDa, and 15.3 kDa. In particular, all 14 Korean strains showed a missense single point mutation at the start codon of the truncated 7.7 kDa. In addition, a deletion was found in the truncated 7.7 kDa region by 58 base pairs in 10 strains and 94 base pairs in 4 strains. Variations in amino acids were observed in the receptor internalization and degradation complex (10.3 kDa/14.9 kDa) which stimulates the clearance from the cell surface and subsequent degradation of the receptors for the Fas ligand and TRAIL, while no variations were observed in another immunoregulatory transcript, 19 kDa.
CONCLUSION
Sequence analysis of the immunoregulatory region of adenovirus E3 shows that genetic heterogeneities are related to genome type patterns.

Keyword

Adenovirus; Serotype; Genome type; Early region

MeSH Terms

Adenoviridae
Amino Acids
Base Pairing
Child
Codon, Initiator
Cytokines
DNA
Fas Ligand Protein
Genetic Heterogeneity
Genetic Variation
Genome
Humans
Point Mutation
Proteins
Respiratory Tract Infections
Sequence Analysis
Sprains and Strains
T-Lymphocytes
Amino Acids
Codon, Initiator
Cytokines
DNA
Fas Ligand Protein
Proteins