Achaea janata granulovirus (AcjaGV), an insect virus belonging to Baculoviridae, infects semilooper, a widely distributed defoliating pest on castor beans (Ricinus communis L.) and several other plant hosts in India. The propagation and purification of the Hyderabad isolate AcjaGV were performed, granulin gene from this isolate was amplified, cloned and sequenced, and its homology with other known granulin genes was assessed. The 753-bp granulin ORF of AcjaGV encoded for a granulin protein of 250 amino acids with a molecular mass of 29.5 ± 0.7 kDa. This amino acid sequence exhibited significant homology with Spodoptera litura granulovirus (SpliGV) and other GVs infecting insects in the same Noctuidae family of Lepidoptera. Peptide analysis of granulin protein indicated close homology with that of SpliGV. Virtual RFLP patterns from in silico digestions of granulin gene of 18 granuloviruses mapped by 12 restriction enzymes were used for simulated digestions. Implications of the phylogenetic relationships of granulin nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence are discussed. We have established the sequence identity of granulin gene of AcjaGV and characterized its protein product and the phylogenetic relationship with other known GVs. Our results indicate the presence of unique restriction sites for three restriction enzymes, and this can be used as a tool for identification of AcjaGV from various sources. This is the first report from the Indian subcontinent to describe the complete granulin gene of a GV isolated from A. janata.
Keywords: Achaea janata; Baculovirus; Granulin; Granulovirus; In silico restriction digestions; Phylogenetic studies; RFLP; Semilooper.