Adverse effects of MVA-T7 on the transport of Marburg virus glycoprotein

Expression of glycoproteins has been carried out successfully using recombinant vaccinia virus vectors. Especially attractive is the use of recombinant vaccinia viruses which express the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the phage T7 (T7-polymerase). The T7-polynerase drives the transcription of plasmid-based genes under the control of the T7 RNA polymerase promoter transfected into the infected cell. Comparison of two different recombinant vaccinia viruses, vTF7-3 and MVA-T7, revealed that post-translational processing of Marburg virus surface glycoprotein (GP) is impaired in the MVA-T7 but not in the vTF7-3 system. Influenza virus hemagglutinin, however, was transported and processed like the authentic protein in both systems. It is shown that transport of GP in the MVA-T7 system is not completely blocked, but the vast majority of molecules remained Endo H-sensitive. Only trace amounts evaded the endoplasmatic reticulum and reached the plasma membrane. Thus, the adverse effects of MVA-T7 on the processing of recombinant glycoproteins cannot be predicted, and correct processing has to be investigated for every expressed glycoprotein.