Binding of the baculovirus very late expression factor 1 (VLF-1) to different DNA structures

BACKGROUND: Baculovirus genomes encode a gene called very late expression factor 1 (VLF-1) that is a member of the integrase (Int) family of proteins. In this report we describe the binding properties of purified Autographa californica multiple capsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) VLF-1 to a number of different DNA structures including homologous regions. In addition, its enzymatic activity was examined. RESULTS: VLF-1 was expressed in a recombinant baculovirus as a fusion with both HA and HIS(6) tags and its binding activity to different DNA structures was tested. No binding was evident to single and double strand structures, very low binding was observed to Y-forks, more binding was observed to three-way junctions, whereas cruciform structures showed high levels of binding. VLF-1 binding was affected by divalent cations; optimal binding to three-way junctions and cruciforms was 2 and 0 mM MgCl(2), respectively. Homologous region (hr) sequences was also examined including oligomers designed to expose the hr palindrome as a hairpin, linear double strand, or H-shaped structure. Efficient binding was observed to the hairpin and H-shaped structure. No topoisomerase or endonuclease activity was detected. Sedimentation analysis indicated that *VLF-1 is present as a monomer. CONCLUSIONS: An HA- and HIS-tagged version of AcMNPV VLF-1 showed structure-dependent binding to DNA substrates with the highest binding affinity to cruciform DNA. These results are consistent with the involvement of VLF-1 in the processing of branched DNA molecules at the late stages of viral genome replication. We were unable to detect enzymatic activity associated with these complexes.