title: Herpesvirus saimiri encodes a functional homolog of the human bcl-2 oncogene.
abstract: Here we demonstrate that open reading frame 16 (ORF16) of the oncogenic herpesvirus saimiri protects cells from heterologous virus-induced apoptosis. The BH1 and BH2 homology domains are highly conserved in ORF16, and ORF16 heterodimerizes with Bcl-2 family members Bax and Bak. However, ORF16 lacks the core sequence of the conserved BH3 homology domain, suggesting that this region is not essential for anti-apoptotic activity. Conservation of a functional bcl-2 homolog among gammaherpesviruses suggests that inhibition of programmed cell death is important in the biology of these viruses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veliuona
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Clem
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hardwick
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis; D006567:Herpesvirus 2, Saimiriine / Q000235:genetics*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C083278:BHRF1 protein, Human herpesvirus 4; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014764:Viral Proteins