title: A cluster of transcripts encoded by KSHV ORF30-33 gene locus.
abstract: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF30-33 locus encodes four genes with unknown functions. We performed transcriptional mapping of these genes. Northern-hybridization, 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends, and DNA sequencing identified four transcripts of 3.7, 3.6, 2.7, and 1.4 kb, none of which has alternative splicing. While all transcripts have the same termination site, their start sites vary. All transcripts are not expressed or only weakly expressed in latent cells but can be chemically induced. The 3.7 and 3.6 kb transcripts contain all four genes and are sensitive to cycloheximide (CH) but resistant to phosphonoacetic acid (PAA), indicating that they are early lytic transcripts. The 2.7 kb transcript contains ORF32 and ORF33 genes while the 1.4 kb transcript contains the ORF33 gene. Both transcripts are sensitive to CH and PAA, indicating that they are late lytic transcripts. Furthermore, we identified four promoters with functional TATA boxes, none of which is directly transactivated by RTA. Examination of the 5' untranslated region of ORF31 failed to identify any functional internal ribosome entry sites. These results define the transcriptional patterns of the ORF30-33 locus, which should help the delineation of its function.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430071, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Fuchun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiufen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Xinting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shou-Jiang
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary