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Transcriptional origin of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus microRNAs.

ABSTRACT: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes 11 distinct microRNAs, all of which are found clustered within the major latency-associated region of the KSHV genome in the same transcriptional orientation. Because the KSHV microRNAs are all expressed in latently infected cells and are largely unaffected by induction of lytic replication, it appeared probable that they would be processed out of KSHV transcripts that are derived from a latent promoter(s) present in this region. Here, we define three latent transcripts, derived from two distinct KSHV latent promoters, that function as both KSHV primary microRNA precursors and as kaposin pre-mRNAs. These activities require the readthrough of a leaky viral polyadenylation signal located at nucleotide 122070 in the KSHV genome. In contrast, recognition of this polyadenylation signal gives rise to previously identified mRNAs that encode the KSHV open reading frames (ORFs) 71, 72 and 73 proteins as well as a novel unspliced KSHV mRNA that encodes only ORF72 and ORF71. Thus, transcripts initiating at the two latent promoters present in the KSHV latency-associated region can undergo two entirely distinct fates, i.e., processing to give a kaposin mRNA and viral microRNAs on the one hand or expression as KSHV ORF71, ORF72, or ORF73 mRNAs on the other, depending on whether the viral polyadenylation site located at position 122070 is ignored or recognized, respectively.

SUBMITTER: Cai X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1395403 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Transcriptional origin of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus microRNAs.

Cai Xuezhong X Cullen Bryan R BR

Journal of virology 20060301 5

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes 11 distinct microRNAs, all of which are found clustered within the major latency-associated region of the KSHV genome in the same transcriptional orientation. Because the KSHV microRNAs are all expressed in latently infected cells and are largely unaffected by induction of lytic replication, it appeared probable that they would be processed out of KSHV transcripts that are derived from a latent promoter(s) present in this region. Here, we de ...[more]

PMID: 16474131

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Project description:The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or human herpesvirus 8, open reading frame (ORF) K9 encodes a viral interferon regulatory factor (vIRF) that functions as a repressor for interferon-mediated signal transduction. Consequently, this gene is thought to play an important role in the tumorigenicity of KSHV. To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying vIRF expression, we studied the transcriptional regulation of this gene. Experiments using 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends and primer extension revealed that vIRF had different transcriptional patterns during the latent and lytic phases. The promoter region of the minor transcript, which was mainly expressed in uninduced BCBL-1 cells, did not contain a canonical TATA box, but a cap-like element and an initiator element flanked the transcription start site. The promoter of the major transcript, which was mainly expressed in tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-induced BCBL-1 cells, contained a canonical TATA box. A luciferase reporter assay using a deletion mutant of the vIRF promoter and a mutation in the TATA box showed that the TATA box was critical for the lytic activity of vIRF. The promoter activity in the latent phase was eight times stronger than that of the empty vector but was less than 10% of the activity in the lytic phase. Therefore, KSHV may use different functional promoter elements to regulate the expression of vIRF and to antagonize the cell's interferon-mediated antiviral activity. We have also identified a functional domain in the ORF 50 protein, an immediate-early gene product that is mainly encoded by ORF 50. The ORF 50 protein transactivated the vIRF and DNA polymerase promoters in BCBL-1, 293T, and CV-1 cells. Deleting one of its two putative nuclear localization signals (NLSs) resulted in failure of the ORF 50 protein to localize to the nucleus and consequently abrogated its transactivating activity. We further confirmed that the N-terminal region of the ORF 50 protein included an NLS domain. We found that this domain was sufficient to translocate beta-galactosidase to the nucleus. Analysis of deletions within the vIRF promoter suggested that two sequence domains were important for its transactivation by the ORF 50 protein, both of which included putative SP-1 and AP-1 binding sites. Competition gel shift assays demonstrated that SP-1 bound to these two domains, suggesting that the SP-1 binding sites in the vIRF promoter are involved in its transactivation by ORF 50.

Dataset Information

Transcriptional origin of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus microRNAs.

Publications

Transcriptional origin of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus microRNAs.

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