Functional dissection of the baculovirus late expression factor-8 gene: sequence requirements for late gene promoter activation Titterington, Jane S. and Nun, Tamara K. and Passarelli, A. Lorena,, 84, 1817-1826 (2003), doi = https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.19083-0, publicationName = Microbiology Society, issn = 0022-1317, abstract= The late expression factor-8 gene (lef-8) of Autographa californica M nucleopolyhedrovirus encodes the largest subunit of the virally encoded DNA-directed RNA polymerase specific for the transcription of late and very late viral genes. The sequence of lef-8 predicts a C-terminal motif of 13 amino acids that is conserved in other polymerases. Detailed mutagenesis throughout lef-8 was performed, including this C-terminal motif, to define sequences required for late promoter activation. It was found that the conserved C-terminal motif was critical for late gene expression. In addition, regions throughout the entire lef-8-encoding sequence were important for optimal function, suggesting complex protein–protein and protein–DNA interrelationships in the late gene-specific viral transcriptosome., language=, type=