Identification and characterization of two antisense transcripts from the major immediate early region of rat cytomegalovirus

We have identified and characterized two antisense transcripts from the rat cytomegalovirus (RCMV) major immediate early (MIE) region. These transcripts, designated IE-AS1 and IE-AS2, are complementary to part of the sense IE1 transcript. The IE-AS transcripts were first detected in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of RCMV-infected rats at 7 days post-infection (pi) in the absence of IE1 transcription. Nevertheless, both the IE1 and IE-AS transcripts were found at the same time in the salivary glands of RCMV-infected rats at 7 and 120 days pi as well as in RCMV-infected rat embryo fibroblasts (REFs) at 48 h pi.