Low level of lytic replication in a recombinant Epstein-Barr virus carrying an origin of replication devoid of BZLF1-binding sites.
Binding of the BZLF1 viral transactivator to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) oriLyt has been reported to be essential for viral DNA replication. We have constructed a recombinant virus (E2-oriLyt-R) in which the oriLyt BZLF1-binding sites (ZRE) were exchanged against papilloma E2-binding sites. A fusion protein between the BZLF1 protein-transactivating domain and the E2 protein-binding domain was able to reactivate lytic replication in E2-oriLyt-R. However, BZLF1 alone could also induce E2-oriLyt-R, albeit with much lower efficiency. ZRE are therefore important but not absolutely essential cis elements for lytic replication. This shows the importance of recombinants to evaluate viral functions.
Cancer Research-UK Institute for Cancer Studies, Department of Pathology, University of Birmingham.
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R
Feederle
H J
HJ
Delecluse
D001665:Binding Sites; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D018741:Replication Origin; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication
C063676:BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins