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Enzootic nasal tumor virus (ENTV) and Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) are highly related ovine betaretroviruses that induce nasal and lung tumours in small ruminants, respectively. While the ENTV and JSRV envelope (Env) glycoproteins mediate virus entry using the same cellular receptor, the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked protein hyaluronoglucosaminidase, ENTV Env pseudovirions mediate entry into cells from a much more restricted range of species than do JSRV Env pseudovirions. Unlike JSRV Env, ENTV Env does not induce cell fusion at pH 5.0 or above, but rather requires a much lower pH (4.0-4.5) for fusion to occur. The cytoplasmic tail of retroviral envelope proteins is a key modulator of envelope-mediated fusion and pseudotype efficiency, especially in the context of virions composed of heterologous Gag proteins. Here we report that progressive truncation of the ENTV Env cytoplasmic tail improves transduction efficiency of pseudotyped retroviral vectors and that complete truncation of the ENTV Env cytoplasmic tail increases transduction efficiency to wild-type JSRV Env levels by increasing fusogenicity without affecting sensitivity to inhibition by lysosomotropic agents, subcellular localization or efficiency of inclusion into virions. Truncation of the cytoplasmic domain of ENTV Env resulted in a significant advantage in viral entry into all cell types tested, including foetal ovine lung and nasal cells. Taken together, we demonstrate that the cytoplasmic tail modulates the fusion activity of the ENTV Env protein and that truncation of this region enhances Eenv-mediated entry into target cells.

The double-stranded DNA genome of Choristoneura fumiferana nucleopolyhedrovirus (CfMNPV) was sequenced and analysed in the context of other group I nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs). The genome consists of 129,593 bp with a G + C content of 50.1 mol%. A total of 146 open reading frames (ORFs) of greater than 150 bp, and with no or minimal overlap were identified. In addition, five homologous regions were identified containing 7-10 repeats of a 36 bp imperfect palindromic core. Comparison with other completely sequenced baculovirus genomes revealed that 139 of the CfMNPV ORFs have homologues in at least one other baculovirus and seven ORFs are unique to CfMNPV. Of the 117 CfMNPV ORFs common to all group I NPVs, 12 are exclusive to group I NPVs. Overall, CfMNPV is most similar to Orgyia pseudotsugata MNPV based on gene content, arrangement and overall amino acid identity. Unlike other group I baculoviruses, however, CfMNPV encodes a viral enhancing factor (vef) and has two copies of p26.

The Choristoneura fumiferana nucleopolyhedrovirus (CfMNPV) encodes an ORF homologous to type III 3'-5' exonucleases. The CfMNPV v-trex ORF was cloned into the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression-vector system, expressed in insect Sf21 cells with an N-terminal His tag and purified to homogeneity by using Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Biochemical characterization of the purified V-TREX confirmed that this viral protein is a functional 3'-5' exonuclease that cleaves oligonucleotides from the 3' end in a stepwise, distributive manner, suggesting a role in proofreading during viral DNA replication and DNA repair. Enhanced degradation of a 5'-digoxigenin- or 5'-(32)P-labelled oligo(dT)(30) substrate was observed at increasing incubation times or increased amounts of V-TREX. The 3'-excision activity of V-TREX was maximal at alkaline pH (9.5) in the presence of 5 mM MgCl(2), 2 mM dithiothreitol and 0.1 mg BSA ml(-1).