title: Characterization of the functional activities of the bovine papillomavirus type 1 E2 protein single-chain heterodimers.
abstract: Papillomaviruses are small DNA viruses which establish persistent infection in the epithelial tissue of various animal species. Three papillomavirus proteins encoded by the bovine papillomavirus type 1 E2 open reading frame have a common C-terminal DNA binding and dimerization domain and function as dimeric proteins in the regulation of viral gene expression, genome replication, and maintenance. The full-length E2 protein, expressed usually at the lowest level of the three, is an activator, while shorter forms of E2, lacking the transactivation domain, serve as repressors of replication and transcription. In virally infected cells, the full-length E2 protein forms heterodimers with repressor forms of the E2 protein and the biological activities of such heterodimers are poorly known. In order to study the functionality of E2 heterodimers, we joined the full-length E2 protein and E2 repressor by a flexible polypeptide hinge so that they formed a single-chain intramolecular dimer. The single-chain E2 heterodimers folded correctly to form genuine pseudodimers capable of binding to the specific E2 protein binding site with high affinity. Characterization of the activities of this protein in transcription showed that it functions as an effective transcriptional activator, which is comparable to what was found for the full-length E2 protein. The single-chain heterodimer is dependent to some extent on Brd4 protein and is able to support papillomavirus origin replication; however, it does not support the partitioning of the multimeric E2 binding site containing plasmids in dividing cells. Our results suggest that E2 heterodimers serve as activators of transcription and replication during the viral life cycle.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia. rkurg@ebc.ee
authors.forename: Reet
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurg
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tekkel
authors.forename: Aare
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abroi
authors.forename: Mart
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ustav
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019677:Artificial Gene Fusion; D052688:Bovine papillomavirus 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D006224:Cricetinae; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008156:Luciferases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000502:physiology; D017510:Protein Folding; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication; D000092468:Bromodomain Containing Proteins
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008156:Luciferases; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014764:Viral Proteins; C441289:BRD4 protein, human; D000092468:Bromodomain Containing Proteins; C051550:E2 protein, Bovine papillomavirus