Evidence for the role of BmNPV Bm65 protein in the repair of ultraviolet-induced DNA damage

•Bm65 significantly increased the expression of mCherry reporter gene damaged by UV.•The DNA damage induced by UV light in Bm65-transfected BmN cells decreased faster than in control cells.•The viability of UV-induced BmN cells which were transiently expressing Bm65-EGFP were higher than control cells.

It is unclear how, or to what extent, baculovirus DNA that has been damaged by ultraviolet (UV) light is repaired during infection and replication. In our previous study, expression of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) ORF Bm65, a homolog of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) ac79, correlated with decreased inactivation of virus by UV irradiation. In the current study, we accumulated more evidence pointing to a role for Bm65 in repair of UV-induced DNA damage. The localization of Bm65 was studied using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fusion constructs expressed in BmN cells transfected with a Bm65 expression plasmid. The results indicate that Bm65-EGFP accumulates in the nucleus. A host cell reactivation assay showed that Bm65 significantly increased the expression of UV-damaged mCherry reporter gene. An assay measuring cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) in UV-irradiated BmN cells found that CPD quantity was decreased in cells transfected with a Bm65 expression plasmid. We also showed that after UVC treatment, the viability of Bm65-transfected cells was higher than that of egfp-transfected cells. These results suggest that Bm65 may be involved in the repair of baculovirus DNA that has been damaged by UV light.

Graphical abstractBmNPV Bm65 protein might help to repair UV-induced DNA damage (CPDs) and increase the viability of host cells after ultraviolet radiation.Download high-res image (72KB)Download full-size image