KSHV ORF57 Antibody

Background

This antibody is designed, produced, and validated as part of a collaboration between Rockland and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and is suitable for Cancer, Immunology and Nuclear Signaling research. ORF57 (also known as MTA), one of the earliest Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) regulatory proteins to be expressed, is essential for virus lytic replication. A counterpart is present in every herpesvirus sequenced, indicating the importance of this signature viral protein, and those examined act post-transcriptionally, affecting RNA splicing and transport.  KSHV ORF57 is capable of establishing both lytic and latent replication cycles.  In KS, the virus localizes to tumor progenitor endothelial cells, most of which are latently infected.  In cell culture, KSHV replication is generally studied using B-cell lines, such as BCBL-1, generated from primary effusion lymphoma material.  Most BCBL-1 cells are latently infected, although there is some spontaneous virus reactivation.  Addition of chemical inducers such as sodium n-butyrate, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), and valproic acid (VA) to these cells efficiently induces the lytic cycle and produces virions.  KSHV ORF57 protein predominantly localizes to the nucleus and can shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm.  Most HSV-1 genes are unspliced; by contrast, ORF57 is spliced gene; the protein is 455 amino acids in length and 50kDa in size.