opep-2is anOrgyia pseudotsugatamulticapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (OpMNPV) early gene in theie1–ie2gene region for which there is no homolog in either the archetype virus,Autographa californicaMNPV, orBombyx moriNPV.opep-2is transcribed immediately upon infection as three mRNAs which initiate from a early gene motif (TATA-N 27 -CAGT). The expression of multiple transcripts at very early times postinfection has only been previously described for the baculovirus early geneie1,which produces spliced mRNAs. However, distinct fromie1,the multiple mRNAs ofopep-2are due to multiple termination sites and not splicing. Western blot analysis of steady-state levels of OPEP-2 showed that in OpMNPV-infected Ld652Y cells maximum levels are obtained at 8–12 hr postinfection (p.i.) prior to DNA replication. By 48 hr p.i. OPEP-2 is shut off and is undetectable. To aid in elucidating the function of this OpMNPV-specific gene anopep-2deletion mutant was generated and was compared to wild-type virus to determine if its absence affects viral growth in Ld652Y tissue culture cells.