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Mechanisms of viral activators
A J Berk1, T G Boyer, A N Kapanidis
1Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles 90095-1570, USA.
Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology
|June 29, 1999
Summary
Large E1A, Zebra, and VP16 are transcriptional activators. While large E1A
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
- Gene Regulation
Background:
- Adenovirus large E1A, Epstein-Barr virus Zebra, and herpes simplex virus VP16 serve as models for animal cell transcriptional activators.
- Investigating the interaction of these viral proteins with the host cell's transcriptional machinery is crucial for understanding gene regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which viral transcriptional activators interact with general transcription factors.
- To determine the role of TFIID and its subunits in mediating transcriptional activation by viral proteins.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mutant analysis of E1A and TBP to study protein interactions.
- Developed a method for rapid purification of TFIID from engineered cell lines.
- Assessed the effect of viral activators on TFIID-TFIIA complex assembly on promoter DNA.
Main Results:
- Large E1A's interaction with TBP was not significant for activation; conserved region 3 interacts with a TFIID subunit.
- Purified TFIID contains 11 TAFs.
- Zebra and VP16, but not large E1A, stimulate TFIID-TFIIA complex assembly, correlating with in vivo transcriptional activation for VP16.
Conclusions:
- The mechanism of transcriptional activation differs among viral proteins.
- DA complex assembly is a key component of activation for certain viral domains, particularly VP16.
- Further research into TFIID subunit interactions is warranted.