Members of the Circoviridae family of animal viruses encode a viral protein capable of selectively inducing apoptosis in cancer cells while leaving normal cells intact. Apoptin is nuclear in cancer cells but cytoplasmic in normal cells, whereas PCV1-VP3 exhibits cytoplasmic localization regardless of cell type. This study aimed to create a nuclear localized PCV1-VP3 mutant as well as assess the apoptotic activity of this mutant. A predicted non-classical nuclear export sequence was targeted by site-directed mutagenesis, resulting in enhanced apoptotic ability but continued cytoplasmic localization. Truncated PCV1-VP3 (105-139) was not demonstrated to retain apoptotic activity. The results described here warrant further investigation into the location of PCV1-VP3’s functional NES.

• 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

• Amato, Katherine Ann

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042716-155709

Advisor

• Heilman, Destin

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Rights statement

• In Copyright