title: Murine cytomegalovirus major immediate-early enhancer region operating as a genetic switch in bidirectional gene pair transcription.
abstract: Enhancers are defined as DNA elements that increase transcription when placed in any orientation relative to a promoter. The major immediate-early (MIE) enhancer region of murine cytomegalovirus is flanked by transcription units ie1/3 and ie2, which are transcribed in opposite directions. We have addressed the fundamental mechanistic question of whether the enhancer synchronizes transcription of the bidirectional gene pair (synchronizer model) or whether it operates as a genetic switch, enhancing transcription of either gene in a stochastic alternation (switch model). Clonal analysis of cytokine-triggered, transcription factor-mediated MIE gene expression from latent viral genomes provided evidence in support of the switch model.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Virology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Hochhaus am Augustusplatz, 55101 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kühnapfel
authors.forename: Matthias J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Reddehase
authors.forename: Natascha K A
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Grzimek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers