An Epstein-Barr virus immediate-early gene product trans-activates gene expression from the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients are frequently coinfected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In this report, we demonstrate that an EBV immediate-early gene product, BamHI MLF1, stimulates expression of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene linked to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) promoter. The HIV promoter sequences necessary for trans-activation by EBV do not include the tat-responsive sequences. In addition, in contrast to the other herpesvirus trans-activators previously studied, the EBV BamHI MLF1 gene product appears to function in part by a posttranscriptional mechanism, since it increases pHIV-CAT protein activity more than it increases HIV-CAT mRNA. This ability of an EBV gene product to activate HIV gene expression may have biologic consequences in persons coinfected with both viruses.
Kenney
S
S
Lineberger Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27514.
Kamine
J
J
Markovitz
D
D
Fenrick
R
R
Pagano
J
J
D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006678:HIV / Q000235:genetics*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase