Identification, expression and localization of the Ul45 protein of equine herpes virus type 1

Abstract EN

UL45 was one of the tegument proteins that have been identified in both EHV-1 and EHV-4, it was recorded that ORF 15 EHV-1was homologues to UL45 (HSV).

Until now, the function of UL45 protein in cell culture and animal models is poorly understood.

To investigate the function of the UL45 protein, we expressed the UL45 gene in prokaryotic expression vector pGEX-6P-1 to express UL45 protein and used the resulting protein to raise guinea pig antiserum.

In western blotting experiments, the antiserum directed against the Nterminal of EHV-1 UL45 protein specifically recognized a protein with molecular weight ranging from 30 to 60 kDa in the infected cells lysates.

The immunofluorescence assay also showed that EHV-1 ORF15 antiserum was able to probe the UL45 protein which is localized mainly in the cytoplasm associating with the membrane of the cells infected with EHV-1 Ab4p.