title: Cyclosporin A-sensitive induction of the Epstein-Barr virus lytic switch is mediated via a novel pathway involving a MEF2 family member.
abstract: Induction of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic cycle by crosslinking surface immunoglobulin is inhibited by the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A (CsA) and FK506. This correlates with the ability of CsA to inhibit Ca2+-dependent transcription of the lytic cycle switch gene BZLF1. It is shown here that CsA sensitivity maps to three sites (ZIA, ZIB and ZID) that bind the serum response factor-related protein MEF2D. A synthetic promoter containing multiple copies of a MEF2D site from Zp, in conjunction with a CREB/AP-1 site (ZII) from Zp, exhibits CsA-sensitive inducibility. Furthermore, the Zp MEF2D sites were functionally interchangeable with MEF2 sites derived from heterologous promoters. While no evidence of a NFAT family member binding to either the MEF2 or CREB/AP-1 sites was obtained, it could be demonstrated that CsA-sensitive induction of Zp was mediated by calcineurin and NFATc2 in synergy with either phorbol ester or especially with the EBV-induced Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase type IV/Gr. These studies identify Zp as prototypic of a novel class of CsA-sensitive and NFAT-dependent promoters defined by the presence of MEF2 sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borras
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chatila
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Speck
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D019703:Calcineurin; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; D016572:Cyclosporine; D019703:Calcineurin; D010749:Phosphoprotein Phosphatases; D002118:Calcium