The viral E4 protein is required for the completion of the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus productive cycle in vivo.
Expression of the papillomavirus E4 protein correlates with the onset of viral DNA amplification. Using a mutant cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) genome incapable of expressing the viral E4 protein, we have shown that E4 is required for the productive stage of the CRPV life cycle in New Zealand White and cottontail rabbits. In these lesions, E4 was not required for papilloma development, but the onset of viral DNA amplification and L1 expression were abolished. Viral genome amplification was partially restored when mutant genomes able to express longer forms of E4 were used. These findings suggest that efficient amplification of the CRPV genome is dependent on the expression of a full-length CRPV E4 protein.
Peh
Woei L
WL
Division of Virology, The National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, United Kingdom.
Brandsma
Janet L
JL
Christensen
Neil D
ND
Cladel
Nancy M
NM
Wu
Xing
X
Doorbar
John
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D012777:Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010212:Papilloma / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D011817:Rabbits; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004279:DNA, Viral; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral