Division of Tumor Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
J Virol 64: 1217-26 (1990)
Abstract
The product of the Epstein-Barr virus BZLF1 gene encodes a protein
which is related to c-fos, it has been shown to bind specifically to a
consensus AP-1 site, and its expression in latently Epstein-Barr
virus-infected lymphocytes is sufficient to trigger the viral lytic
cycle. We identified several elements within the BZLF1 promoter (Zp)
which are responsive to the phorbol ester
12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an inducer of the viral
lytic cycle. These elements fall into two classes based on the factors
which bind to these sequences and their resulting functional behavior.
Four of the elements are homologous (ZI elements) and share homology to
a protein-binding domain in the promoter region of the coordinately
expressed BRLF1 gene. When cloned upstream of heterologous promoters,
the ZI elements function as silencers which exhibit TPA-inducible
enhancer activity. A distinct TPA-responsive element (ZII) is located
near the TATA box and shares homology with the AP-1-binding site in the
c-jun promoter. A synthetic oligonucleotide with a sequence
corresponding to the ZII element effectively competes for binding of
nuclear factors to the c-jun AP-1 site. Furthermore, we found that a
complex of c-jun and c-fos bound to the ZII domain.
Mesh Headings
Unique Identifier: 90156519
Chemical Identifiers (Names)