Nucleoplasmic and nucleolar distribution of the adenovirus IVa2 gene product

Sequence elements (DE) located downstream of the adenovirus major late promoter start site have previously been shown to be essential for the activation of this promoter after the onset of viral DNA replication. Two proteins (DEF-A and DEF-B) bind to these elements in a late-phase-dependent manner and contribute to this activation. DEF-B corresponds to a dimer of the adenovirus IVa2 gene product (pIVa2, 449 residues), while DEF-A is a heteromeric protein also comprising pIVa2. As revealed by specific immunofluorescence staining of infected cells, pIVa2 is targeted to the nucleus, where it distributes to both nucleoplasmic and nucleolar structures. We have identified the pIVa2 nuclear localization signal (NLS) as a basic peptide element at the C terminus of the protein (residues 432 to 449). An element essential for nucleolar localization (NuLS) has been mapped in the N-terminal part of pIVa2 (between residues 50 and 136). While NuLS activity is dependent upon an intact NLS, we show that both NLS and NuLS functions are independent of specific DNA-binding activity. As visualized by immunoelectron microscopy, pIVa2 is detected in the nucleoplasm at the level of the fibrillogranular network which is active in viral transcription. More surprisingly, pIVa2 accumulates within electron-dense amorphous inclusions found both in the nucleoplasm and in the nucleolus. Altogether, these results suggest that, besides controlling major late promoter transcription, pIVa2 serves additional, as yet unknown functions.