title: Cell type specific repression of the varicella zoster virus immediate early gene 62 promoter by the cellular Oct-2 transcription factor.
abstract: The cellular transcription factor Oct-2.1 has previously been shown to repress the transactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) immediate early gene promoter by viral transactivators but not to inhibit its basal activity. In the case of the related virus herpes simplex virus (HSV), the effect of Oct-2 on the IE promoters has been shown to be cell type specific and to differ between the different alternatively spliced forms of Oct-2. Here we show that as well as Oct-2.1, the Oct-2.4 and 2.5 isoforms which are expressed in neuronal cells can inhibit transactivation of the VZV immediate early promoter regardless of the cell type used. In contrast, all the isoforms of Oct-2 can inhibit basal activity of the VZV promoter in neuronal cells but not in other cell types indicating that this effect is cell type specific. These effects are discussed in terms of the differential regulation of latent infections with HSV or VZV in dorsal root ganglia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pathology, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London Medical School, The Windeyer Building, 46 Cleveland Street, London W1P 6DB, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gough
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Coffin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Latchman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000821:virology; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors