title: Human cytomegalovirus US3 gene expression is regulated by a complex network of positive and negative regulators.
abstract: One immediate early gene of human cytomegalovirus, the US3 gene, causes retention of major histocompatibility locus class I heavy chain proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum and is postulated to have a role in viral pathogenicity. Expression of the US3 gene is regulated by a number of cis-acting elements. In addition, numerous viral proteins are involved in regulating US3 gene expression. US3 transcription was activated modestly by a virion protein, ppUL82. The immediate early proteins encoded by UL122-123 (IE1 and IE2) further activate US3 expression, with the activation enhanced by expression of pTRS1. Other proteins, the immediate early protein encoded by UL37ex1/UL38 and the early protein, pUL84, inhibited IE1 and IE2 activation of US3 expression. US3 transcription is regulated both positively and negatively by a complex network of viral proteins, the interaction of which contributes to precise regulation of US3 gene expression. The ability of pUL37ex1/UL38 to repress expression of the immediate early US3 gene while activating early gene expression suggests that pUL37ex1/UL38 may function to switch viral gene expression from immediate early to early genes.
authors.affiliation: College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA. biegalke@ohiou.edu
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Biegalke
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000502:physiology*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000821:virology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C095111:US3 protein, cytomegalovirus; D014764:Viral Proteins