Human cytomegalovirus ie1 transactivates the alpha promoter-enhancer via an 18-base-pair repeat element.
The expression of alpha (immediate-early) genes of cytomegalovirus is regulated via a complex enhancer that consists of several different repeat elements. We describe here the autoinduction of expression from the alpha promoter-enhancer by the most abundant alpha gene product, a 491-amino-acid nuclear phosphoprotein referred to as ie1. We defined the 18-base-pair repeat element within the alpha enhancer as the signal through which ie1 acts to regulate gene expression. This element contains an NF kappa B site that may play an important role in ie1 autoregulation. Our analysis, which relied on deletions through the enhancer as well as reconstitution of responsiveness to a promoter with synthetic 18-base-pair repeats, strongly implicated ie1 in the transcriptional transactivation of the alpha promoter through its enhancer.
Cherrington
J M
JM
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305.
Mocarski
E S
ES
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005814:Genes, Viral; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins