title: The zipper region of Epstein-Barr virus bZIP transcription factor Zta is necessary but not sufficient to direct DNA binding.
abstract: The viral bZIP transcription factor Zta (BZLF1, EB1, ZEBRA) mediates the switch between the latent and lytic cycles of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In part, its activity requires the formation of homodimers and interaction with specific DNA sequence elements (ZREs). Zta has an atypical zipper motif that has a lower stability than do typical bZIP proteins. Here we show that a synthetic peptide directed against the zipper can disrupt the DNA-binding function of Zta. This highlights the relevance of this region for the function of Zta and demonstrates that the zipper region is a potential target for therapeutic agents. We also unmask the relevance of a region adjacent to the zipper (CT region), which is required to direct the interaction of Zta with DNA and to transactivate ZRE-dependent promoters in vivo.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9QG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: Salama S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Al-Mehairi
authors.forename: Alison J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sinclair
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006367:HeLa Cells; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016350:Leucine Zippers; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins; D004247:DNA