Epstein-Barr virus encodes a novel homolog of the bcl-2 oncogene that inhibits apoptosis and associates with Bax and Bak.
The sequenced gammaherpesviruses each contain a single viral bcl-2 homolog (v-bcl-2) which may encode a protein that functions in preventing the apoptotic death of virus-infected cells. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a gammaherpesvirus associated with several lymphoid and epithelial malignancies, encodes the v-Bcl-2 homolog BHRF1. In this report the previously uncharacterized BALF1 open reading frame in EBV is identified as having significant sequence similarity to other v-bcl-2 homologs and cellular bcl-2. Transfection of cells with a BALF1 cDNA conferred apoptosis resistance. Furthermore, a recombinant green fluorescent protein-BALF1 fusion protein suppressed apoptosis and associated with Bax and Bak. These results indicate that EBV encodes a second functional v-bcl-2.
Marshall
W L
WL
Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Adult Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Yim
C
C
Gustafson
E
E
Graf
T
T
Sage
D R
DR
Hanify
K
K
Williams
L
L
Fingeroth
J
J
Finberg
R W
RW
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000032:analysis; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein