Viral trans-factor independent replication of human papillomavirus genomes.
BACKGROUND
Papillomaviruses (PVs) establish a persistent infection in the proliferating basal cells of the epithelium. The viral genome is replicated and maintained as a low-copy nuclear plasmid in basal keratinocytes. Bovine and human papillomaviruses (BPV and HPV) are known to utilize two viral proteins; E1, a DNA helicase, and E2, a transcription factor, which have been considered essential for viral DNA replication. However, growing evidence suggests that E1 and E2 are not entirely essential for stable replication of HPV.


RESULTS
Here we report that multiple HPV16 mutants, lacking either or both E1 and E2 open reading frame (ORFs) and the long control region (LCR), still support extrachromosomal replication. Our data clearly indicate that HPV16 has a mode of replication, independent of viral trans-factors, E1 and E2, which is achieved by origin activity located outside of the LCR.
Nebraska Center for Virology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0900, USA.
Daraporn
D
Pittayakhajonwut
Peter C
PC
Angeletti
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C093478:E1 protein, Human papillomavirus 16; C054855:E2 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral