The third viral protein (VP3) from Porcine Circovirus 1 (PCV1) has been shown to emulate transformed-cell specific apoptosis inducing mechanisms of other Circoviridae VP3s, including Apoptin from CAV. One feature thought to contribute to this phenomenon is the subcellular localization behavior of the VP3s. Apoptin shuttles from cytoplasm to nucleus upon cellular transformation, but PCV1-VP3 localizes exclusively to the cytoplasm regardless of cell type. To further elucidate whether cytoplasmic localization is imperative for PCV1-VP3’s mechanism, putative nuclear export signal (NES) sequences were disrupted via site-directed mutagenesis. No difference in localization was noted compared to that of wild-type PCV1-VP3 and further characterization is necessary to understand PCV1-VP3 export.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Pakatar, Nicholas Abraham

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-091115-122958

Advisor

• Heilman, Destin

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-09-11

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright