title: The Rta/Orf50 transactivator proteins of the gamma-herpesviridae.
abstract: The replication and transcription activator protein, Rta, is encoded by Orf50 in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and other known gammaherpesviruses including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), rhesus rhadinovirus (RRV), herpesvirus saimiri (HVS), and murine herpesvirus 68 (MHV-68). Each Rta/Orf50 homologue of each gammaherpesvirus plays a pivotal role in the initiation of viral lytic gene expression and lytic reactivation from latency. Here we discuss the Rta/Orf50 of KSHV in comparison to the Rta/Orf50s of other gammaherpesviruses in an effort to identify structural motifs, mechanisms of action, and modulating host factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 804 Mary Ellen Jones Bldg, CB 7290, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Staudt
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Dittmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018144:Rhadinovirus / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014775:Virus Activation
chemical_list: D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; C417604:Rta protein, Human herpesvirus 8; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014764:Viral Proteins