Epstein-Barr virus polymerase processivity factor enhances BALF2 promoter transcription as a coactivator for the BZLF1 immediate-early protein

J Biol Chem. 2009 Aug 7;284(32):21557-68. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.015685. Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Abstract

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BMRF1 protein is an essential replication protein acting at viral replication forks as a viral DNA polymerase processivity factor, whereas the BALF2 protein is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein that also acts at replication forks and is most abundantly expressed during viral productive replication. Here we document that the BMRF1 protein evidently enhances viral BZLF1 transcription factor-mediated transactivation of the BALF2 gene promoter. Mutagenesis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated the BALF2 promoter to harbor two BZLF1 protein-binding sites (BZLF1-responsive elements). Direct binding of the BZLF1 protein to BZLF1-responsive elements and physical interaction between BZLF1 and BMRF1 proteins are prerequisite for the BMRF1 protein up-regulation of the BALF2 gene promoter. A monomeric mutant, C95E, which is defective in homodimerization, could still interact and enhance BZLF1-mediated transactivation. Furthermore although EBV protein kinase phosphorylates BMRF1 protein extensively, it turned out that phosphorylation of the protein by the kinase is inhibitory to the enhancement of the BZLF1-mediated transactivation of BALF2 promoter. Exogenous expression of BMRF1 protein augmented BALF2 expression in HEK293 cells harboring the EBV genome but lacking BMRF1 and BALF5 genes, demonstrating functions as a transcriptional regulator in the context of viral infection. Overall the BMRF1 protein is a multifunctional protein that cannot only act as a DNA polymerase processivity factor but also enhances BALF2 promoter transcription as a coactivator for the BZLF1 protein, regulating the expression level of viral single-stranded DNA-binding protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Viral / metabolism*
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Luciferases / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Viral Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • BALF2 protein, Human herpesvirus 4
  • BZLF1 protein, Herpesvirus 4, Human
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Epstein-Barr virus early antigen diffuse component
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Viral Proteins
  • Luciferases