DNA recognition by the herpes simplex virus transactivator VP16: a novel DNA-binding structure.
Upon infection, the herpes simplex virus (HSV) transcriptional activator VP16 directs the formation of a multiprotein-DNA complex-the VP16-induced complex-with two cellular proteins, the host cell factor HCF-1 and the POU domain transcription factor Oct-1, on TAATGARAT-containing sequences found in the promoters of HSV immediate-early genes. HSV VP16 contains carboxy-terminal sequences important for transcriptional activation and a central conserved core that is important for VP16-induced complex assembly. On its own, VP16 displays little, if any, sequence-specific DNA-binding activity. We show here that, within the VP16-induced complex, however, the VP16 core has an important role in DNA binding. Mutation of basic residues on the surface of the VP16 core reveals a novel DNA-binding surface with essential residues which are conserved among VP16 orthologs. These results illuminate how, through association with DNA, VP16 is able to interpret cis-regulatory signals in the DNA to direct the assembly of a multiprotein-DNA transcriptional regulatory complex.
Babb
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Graduate Program in Genetics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA.
Huang
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CC
Aufiero
D J
DJ
Herr
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W
D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli; D017405:Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D051863:Host Cell Factor C1; D008958:Models, Molecular; D050811:Octamer Transcription Factor-1; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D017405:Herpes Simplex Virus Protein Vmw65; D051863:Host Cell Factor C1; D050811:Octamer Transcription Factor-1; D011506:Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I