Activation of the adenovirus 2 protein IX promoter by DNA replication in a transient expression assay

We have studied the effect of template replication on transcriptional activation of the promoters for the adenoviral protein IX and E1a genes using a short-term transient expression assay. DNA replication mediated modulation of the transcriptional activity of these promoters was monitored using plasmids with limited replication capability conferred by the SV40 minimal origin of DNA replication in the monkey kidney cell line, COS M6. Our results indicate a substantial increase in protein IX promoter directed transcription in a dosage-independent manner as a consequence of the DNA replication process. In contrast, the transcriptional activity of the adenovirus 2 E1a promoter was not significantly altered. In addition to this DNA replication-mediated effect, transcription from the protein IX promoter was positively regulated by the adenovirus E1a 13S and E4 gene products but was repressed by the E1a 12S gene product to a limited extent. The evidence suggests that the effect of template replication on the transcriptional activity of plasmid-borne protein IX and E1a gene promoters in this transient expression system closely mimics the situation on the viral chromosome.