The Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase transactivates the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 5' long terminal repeat.
We have demonstrated in transient expression assays that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA polymerase transactivates expression of the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene linked to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 5' long terminal repeat (LTR). The evidence was provided by two sets of experiments. Transfection of Raji cells with HIV LTR-CAT followed by superinfection with EBV resulted in a 150-fold increase in CAT activity. In the presence of viral DNA inhibitor 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), the CAT activity was inhibited by approximately 70%, suggesting that EBV DNA polymerase was involved in the transactivation of HIV LTR. The direct proof came from the cotransfection of HIV LTR-CAT with expression plasmid containing EBV polymerase gene; depending on the polymerase gene construct cotransfection with both plasmids resulted in a 23- to 38-fold increase of HIV LTR-CAT activity. The interaction between EBV polymerase and HIV may contribute to the role of EBV as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
Division of HIV/AIDS, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
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D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat / Q000187:drug effects; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D010957:Plasmids; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015215:Zidovudine; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase