Herpes simplex virus 1 late gene expression is preferentially inhibited during infection of the TAF250 mutant ts13 cell line.
A key component of the polymerase II transcription machinery is the transcription factor TFIID, a complex that contains the TATA-box binding protein and several (10-12) associated factors designated as TAFs (TBP-associated factors). ts13 cells, which contain a temperature-sensitive mutant in TAF250, the largest subunit of TFIID, exhibit promoter-specific defects in gene expression at the nonpermissive temperature, suggesting that individual TAFs are required for transcription of specific subsets of eukaryotic genes. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) does not replicate in ts13 cells at the nonpermissive temperature, but the point at which the replicative process is blocked is not known. We used the TAF250 defect in ts13 cells to investigate the role of TAF250 in the expression of HSV-1 genes of each temporal class. At a low m.o.i., expression of most immediate-early mRNAs is reduced at the nonpermissive temperature, and consequently, there is little expression of early genes and no viral DNA replication. In contrast, at high m.o.i., expression of immediate-early genes is unaffected by the TAF250 defect and is not dependent on de novo viral protein synthesis. Early genes and early proteins are produced under these conditions, and viral DNA replication ensues, albeit at somewhat reduced levels. In contrast, late gene expression and late protein synthesis are severely restricted, even in the presence of appreciable viral DNA replication. Thus the lack of late protein synthesis is responsible for the inability of HSV-1 to replicate in ts13 cells at the nonpermissive temperature. Further, it appears that late viral gene expression may be preferentially inhibited by the TAF250 mutation in ts13 cells.
Dhar
S
S
Division of Viral Products, Food and Drug Administration, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Weir
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D002213:Capsid / Q000235:genetics; D036022:Capsid Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early / Q000235:genetics; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; D013696:Temperature; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014779:Virus Replication
D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D035381:TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors; D035362:Transcription Factor TFIID; C082563:VP19 protein, Human herpesvirus 1; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C038535:glycoprotein gC, herpes simplex virus type 1; C048925:herpes simplex virus, type 1 protein ICP4; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; C051804:Vmw110 protein, Human herpesvirus 1; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; C069001:TATA-binding protein associated factor 250 kDa