Transcriptional activity among high and low risk human papillomavirus E2 proteins correlates with E2 DNA binding.
Publication Title
The Journal of biological chemistry
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-22-2002
Keywords
Animals; Bovine papillomavirus 1; Cell-Free System; DNA; DNA-Binding Proteins; Humans; Oncogene Proteins, Viral; Papillomaviridae; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Repressor Proteins; Risk Factors; Trans-Activators; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Viral Proteins
Abstract
The full-length E2 protein, encoded by human papillomaviruses (HPVs), is a sequence-specific transcription factor found in all HPVs, including cancer-causing high risk HPV types 16 and 18 and wart-inducing low risk HPV types 6 and 11. To investigate whether E2 proteins encoded by high risk HPVs may function differentially from E2 proteins encoded by low risk HPVs and animal papillomaviruses, we conducted comparative DNA-binding and transcription studies using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and cell-free transcription systems reconstituted with purified general transcription factors, cofactor, RNA polymerase II, and with E2 proteins encoded by HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-11, and bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1). We found that although different types of E2 proteins all exhibited transactivation and repression activities, depending on the sequence context of the E2-binding sites, HPV-16 E2 shows stronger transcription activity and greater DNA-binding affinity than those displayed by the other E2 proteins. Surprisingly, HPV-18 E2 behaves more similarly to BPV-1 E2 than HPV-16 E2 in its functional properties. Our studies thus categorize HPV-18 E2 and BPV-1 E2 in the same protein family, a finding consistent with the available E2 structural data that separate the closely related HPV-16 and HPV-18 E2 proteins but classify together the more divergent BPV-1 and HPV-18 E2 proteins.
Area of Special Interest
Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)
Specialty/Research Institute
Neurosciences
Comments
Samuel Hou is affiliated with Providence St. Joseph Health.