Inhibition of histone H2B gene transcription and of cellular growth by a truncated viral trans-activator protein

Targeting of promoters for trans activation by a carboxy-terminal domain of the NS-1 protein of the parvovirus minute virus of mice

The NS-1 gene of the parvovirus minute virus of mice (MVM) (prototype strain, MVMp) was fused in phase with the sequence coding for the DNA-binding domain of the bacterial LexA repressor. The resulting chimeric protein, LexNS-1, was tested for its transcriptional activity by using various target promoters in which multiple LexA operator sequences had been introduced. Under these conditions, NS-1 was shown to stimulate gene expression driven by the modified long terminal repeat promoters (from the retroviruses mouse mammary tumor virus and Rous sarcoma virus) and P38 promoter (from MVMp), indicating that the NS-1 protein is a potent transcriptional activator. It is noteworthy that in the absence of LexA operator-mediated targeting, the genuine mouse mammary tumor virus and Rous sarcoma virus promoters were inhibited by NS-1. Together these data strongly suggest that NS-1 contains an activating region able to induce promoters with which this protein interacts but also to repress transcription from nonrecognized promoters by a squelching mechanism similar to that described for other activators. Deletion mutant analysis led to the identification of an NS-1 domain that exhibited an activating potential comparable to that of the whole polypeptide when fused to the DNA-binding region of LexA. This domain is localized in the carboxy-terminal part of NS-1 and corresponds to one of the two regions previously found to be responsible for toxicity. These results argue for the involvement of the regulatory functions of NS-1 in the cytopathic effect of this parvovirus product.

The herpes simplex virus protein Vmw65 can trans-activate both viral and cellular promoters in neuronal cells

Transcription of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) immediate-early (IE) genes in lytic infection is dependent upon the formation of a complex between the cellular transcription factor Oct-1 and the HSV virion protein Vmw65. This complex then binds to the TAATGARAT sequence in the IE promoters and trans-activates the IE genes. Following infection of neuronal cells such as the C1300 neuroblastoma cell line, however, the viral (IE) genes are not transcribed and the lytic cycle is aborted at an early stage. We show here that the cellular factors necessary to form a trans-activating complex with Vmw65 are present in C1300 cells and that trans-activation of both viral and cellular promoters by Vmw65 can be observed in these cells. In contrast with permissive cells, however, trans-activation is only observed in C1300 cells at a high concentration of the target viral promoter and not at a low concentration of the target promoter, regardless of the amount of Vmw65 transfected. The significance of these effects for the regulation of latent infection and cellular gene expression in neuronal cells is discussed.