Influenza virus infection induces cellular Ebp1 gene expression

Influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is composed of three viral proteins, PB1, PB2, and PA. The host protein Ebp1 (ErbB3-binding protein1) interacts with PB1, and inhibits both in vitro RNA synthesis and virus replication. On Western blotting, the induction of Ebp1 was observed after influenza virus infection. To understand the induction of Ebp1 by influenza virus infection, we introduced a series of deletions within the 981-nucleotide long sequence located upstream of the Ebp1 gene (-664 to +317 nt from the transcription initiation site) and ligated them to the GFP gene. GFP expression assays indicated that the 981-nt upstream region was required for expression of GFP in not all cells but some cells. Microscopic analysis of the transformants showed that GFP expression was up-regulated by the influenza virus infection. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR indicated that influenza virus infection induced Ebp1 mRNA expression. Our data showed that (i) the newly synthesized vRNP of influenza virus induces Ebp1 expression; (ii) the Ebp1 promoter localizes between -664 nt and the initiation site of the Ebp1 gene, +317-nt long sequence in the noncoding region is required for regulation of Ebp1 gene expression; and (iii) Ebp1 expression level is correlated with virus protein expression level.