title: Identification of cellular target genes of the Epstein-Barr virus transactivator Zta: activation of transforming growth factor beta igh3 (TGF-beta igh3) and TGF-beta 1.
abstract: The lytic switch transactivator Zta initiates the ordered cascade of Epstein-Barr virus gene expression that culminates in virus production. Zta is a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein that transactivates early viral promotes via cis-acting sequences. Activation of some of these genes is mediated through binding to consensus AP-1 promoter elements. This observation suggests that Zta may also regulate the expression of cellular genes. While many targets of Zta have been identified in the Epstein-Barr virus genome, putative host cell targets remain largely unknown. To address this issue, a tetracycline-regulated Zta expression system was generated, and differential hybridization screening was used to isolate Zta-responsive cellular genes. The major target identified by this analysis is a gene encoding a fasciclin-like secreted factor, transforming growth factor beta igh3 (TGF-beta igh3), that was originally identified as a gene that is responsive to the potent immunosuppressor TGF-beta 1. Northern (RNA) blot analysis demonstrated that induction of Zta expression results in a 10-fold increase in TGF-beta igh3 mRNA levels. Zta was also found to increase TGF-beta 1 mRNA levels as well as the amount of active TGF-beta 1 secreted into the medium. Interestingly, alpha 1-collagen IV, which has been shown to potentiate the effects of TGF-beta 1, is also a cellular target of Zta. These results suggest that Zta could play a role in modulating the host cell environment through activating the expression of secreted factors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Tumor Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cayrol
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Flemington
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006367:HeLa Cells; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014764:Viral Proteins; D013752:Tetracycline