Tax protein of human T-lymphotropic virus type I triggers DNA damage

Previous findings indicated that in vitro HTLV-I-infected cells are highly susceptible to spontaneous and chemically induced DNA-damage. To further study the role of different virus gene products in inducing chromosome abnormalities, MOLT-3 cells were transiently transfected with a tax expressing plasmid (pTax), and assayed for genetic damage by the micronucleus test. We found that pTax-transfected cells not only had a statistically higher baseline micronucleus value than non-transfected control cells, but also were more susceptible to Mitomycin C (MMC)-induced DNA damage. Furthermore, the use of human serum containing anti-kinetochore antibodies disclosed that tax enhances the clastogenic effect of MMC. No increase in total micronucleus frequency was observed when MMC treatment preceded pTax transfection, thus suggesting that the micronucleus increase might not be due to the additive effect of tax and MMC. These findings indicate that the viral tax protein could play an important role in inducing the chromosome damage frequently observed in HTLV-I-infected cells.

Transcriptional activation of the human T-lymphotropic virus type I long terminal repeat by functional interaction of Tax1 and Ets1

Transcription regulation of the oncogenic retrovirus human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) involves the composite activity of both viral and cellular transcription factors. The HTLV-I transforming protein, Tax1, modulates the activity of several cellular transcription factors, upregulating the level of viral gene expression. In addition, cellular transcription factors, such as Ets1, independently bind to the viral long terminal repeat in a sequence-specific manner and activate transcription. It was of interest to analyze the possible interaction of Tax1 and Ets1 in viral gene regulation. We now report that Tax1 and Ets1 increase expression from the HTLV-I promoter in a cooperative manner. The level of expression was increased 5- to 10-fold above the combined individual effect of Tax1 and Ets1. S1 nuclease analysis demonstrated that the cooperative effect was due to an increase in the levels of steady-state RNA. The functional interaction between Tax1 and Ets1 required the presence of the Tax1-responsive 21-bp repeat element TRE-1 and the Ets1-responsive element ERR-1. These results suggested the possible interaction of Ets1 with transcriptional regulatory proteins that bind to the 21-bp repeats. This interaction is demonstrated by decreased electrophoretic mobility of specific 21-bp repeat gel shift complexes in the presence of Ets1. Furthermore, interaction of Ets1 with the 21-bp repeat-binding proteins enhances the relative efficiency of binding to the DNA. This cooperative interaction between Ets1 and proteins which bind to the Tax1-responsive 21-bp repeats suggests a possible role for Ets1 in the regulation of viral gene expression.

HTLV-1 tax activation of the GM-CSF and G-CSF promoters requires the interaction of NF-kB with other transcription factor families

The trans-activator protein, tax, from the human T leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) trans-activates both viral and cellular genes. It has previously been shown that granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is constitutively expressed in HTLV-1 infected cells and in cells artificially expressing tax. We show here that the GM-CSF promoter is tax responsive in fibroblasts and T cells, whereas the granulocyte (G)-CSF promoter is tax responsive only in fibroblasts. The tax protein can activate cellular genes through a least two families of transcription factors; the NF-kB/rel and CREB/ATF families. We have used mutant tax proteins to show that the activation of NF-kB proteins is essential for tax trans-activation of both the GM-CSF and G-CSF promoters. The ability of tax to activate CREB/ATF proteins is also essential for GM-CSF transactivation. We have identified a 44 bp region of the GM-CSF promoter that contains tax responsive elements. This region contains a classical NF-kB site, a CK-1 element that can bind the NF-kB p65 protein, as well as a putative ATF binding site. The tax response of the G-CSF promoter requires not only the conserved CK-1 sequence but also an adjacent NF-IL6 binding site that may explain the cell restricted function of the G-CSF promoter.

Functional and biochemical interaction of the HTLV-I Tax1 transactivator with TBP

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) codes for the potent transcriptional activator, Tax1, which induces the enhancer activity of various enhancer elements. In the case of the 21 bp enhancer of the HTLV-I provirus, this induction is correlated with the association of Tax1 with this DNA element via a specific cellular factor. That the indirect association of Tax1 with DNA can lead to transcriptional activation has also been supported by the study of chimeric GAL4-Tax1 proteins. The GAL4-Tax1 stimulatory effect exhibits a strong self-squelching. In order to determine whether Tax1 interacts directly with the general transcription factors or via intermediary molecules, we have analyzed how overexpression of the TATA binding protein (TBP) and TFIIB protein affects the squelching curve of GAL4-Tax1. The data presented here show that overexpression of TBP strongly increases the stimulatory effect of GAL4-Tax1, causes a displacement of the maximum of the squelching curve and partially alleviates the squelching. Under similar conditions TFIIB exhibited little effect. From these results we conclude that Tax1 can increase the recruitment of TBP by directly interacting with this protein. Biochemical experiments with purified proteins produced in bacteria confirmed that Tax1 can interact with TBP but not with TFIIB. Tax1 interacts with the conserved C-terminal part of TBP. Analysis of the ability of different mutants of Tax1 fused to the GAL4 DNA binding domain to activate transcription and to associate with TBP, showed that these activities are correlated. However, since one transcriptionally inactive mutant was able to interact efficiently with TBP in vitro, it would appear that an event other than the Tax1-TBP contact also intervenes in the activation of transcription by Tax1.

HTLV-I Tax protein stimulation of DNA binding of bZIP proteins by enhancing dimerization

The Tax protein of human T cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-I) transcriptionally activates the HTLV-I promoter. This activation requires binding sites for activating transcription factor (ATF) proteins, a family of cellular proteins that contain basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) DNA binding domains. Data are presented showing that Tax increases the in vitro DNA binding activity of multiple ATF proteins. Tax also stimulated DNA binding by other bZIP proteins, but did not affect DNA binding proteins that lack a bZIP domain. The increase in DNA binding occurred because Tax promotes dimerization of the bZIP domain in the absence of DNA, and the elevated concentration of the bZIP homodimer then facilitates the DNA binding reaction. These results help explain how Tax activates viral transcription and transforms cells.

Transactivation by the human T-cell leukemia virus Tax protein is mediated through enhanced binding of activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) ATF-2 response and cAMP element-binding protein (CREB)

The human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-encoded transcriptional activator protein Tax is strongly implicated in HTLV-I pathogenesis. Tax regulates HTLV-I gene expression through three 21-base pair (bp) repeat enhancer elements located in the transcriptional control region of the virus. Tax does not bind these elements directly, but mediates transactivation through the cellular transcription factors that recognize a cAMP response element (CRE)-like sequence centered within each of the 21-bp repeats. In this report, we identify activating transcription factor-2 (ATF-2) and CRE-binding protein (CREB) as the principal T-cell proteins that bind the three 21-bp repeats in vitro. Purified Tax protein augments the level of RNA synthesis induced by ATF-2 and CREB in a cell-free transcription assay, providing evidence that Tax cooperates with these cellular proteins to activate HTLV-I transcription. Furthermore, Tax dramatically increases the binding of both the T-cell-derived and recombinant forms of ATF-2 and CREB to each of the 21-bp repeats. The target sequences for this enhancement reside within the DNA binding/dimerization domains of these proteins. These data suggest that Tax transactivates HTLV-I gene expression by increasing the number of bound ATF-2 and CREB molecules at the viral promoter.

A cis element required for induction of the interleukin 2 enhancer by human T-cell leukemia virus type I binds a novel Tax-inducible nuclear protein

The 40-kDa nuclear protein Tax encoded by human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) can transcriptionally activate the interleukin 2 (IL-2) enhancer even in the presence of the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A, which inhibits the activation of the IL-2 enhancer by T-cell mitogens. We have identified a Tax-responsive element (TxRE) from -164 to -145 bp in the IL-2 enhancer which is sufficient to confer Tax responsiveness. A 45-kDa nuclear protein (TxRE-binding factor [TxREF]), present in Tax-expressing Jurkat cell lines but not in Jurkat cells without Tax, specifically interacts with the 5' TxRE sequence from -164 to -154. Deletion or mutation of this 5' TxRE sequence removes the binding of TxREF in vitro and dramatically reduces Tax activity in vivo. In addition, this site is responsible for the cyclosporin A-resistant expression of the IL-2 enhancer in the presence of Tax. Although the TxREF binding site contains an NF-kappa B like motif, UV cross-linking studies as well as gel retardation analysis reveal that TxREF is distinct from NF-kappa B. These results demonstrate that TxREF is a novel Tax-inducible DNA-binding protein and that TxRE plays a crucial role in mediating Tax-induced IL-2 gene expression.

Transactivation of the P2 promoter of parathyroid hormone-related protein by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I Tax1: evidence for the involvement of transcription factor Ets1

Expression of the parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a protein that plays a primary role in the development of the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy, is regulated by two distinct promoters, P1 and P2. PTHrP is overexpressed in lymphocytes from adult T-cell leukemia patients. We now demonstrate that in the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-transformed cell line MT-2, RNA synthesis is initiated primarily at the P2 promoter. Furthermore, in cotransfection experiments, Tax1 transactivates the P2 promoter 10- to 12-fold. By using deletion and site-specific point mutations, we have identified a promoter-proximal sequence (positions -72 to -40) which is important for Tax1 transactivation. The PTHrP promoter-proximal element contains two potential overlapping Ets1 binding sites, EBS I and EBS II. Gel shift analysis demonstrated that Ets1 binds specifically to both EBS I and EBS II. Mutation of the consensus GGAA core motif in EBS I abolished binding and Tax1 transactivation in Jurkat T lymphocytes. In Ets1-deficient cells, cotransfection of Tax1 and Ets1 expression plasmids stimulates PTHrP promoter activity. In the absence of Ets1, minimal transactivation of the PTHrP promoter is observed. These data suggest that Ets1 binds to EBS I and cooperates with Tax1 to transactivate the PTHrP P2 promoter.

A new regulatory element that augments the Tax-dependent enhancer of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 and cloning of cDNAs encoding its binding proteins

The Tax protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) trans activates the 21-bp enhancer of HTLV-1. A sequence of more than two copies of the 21-bp enhancer is efficiently activated by Tax, but one copy is not activated extensively. Another sequence (TRE-2, positions -163 to -117) adjacent to the 21-bp enhancer in the long terminal repeat of HTLV-1 can enhance a single copy of the 21-bp enhancer activity in trans activation by Tax. This sequence contains motifs related to the Ets- and NF-kappa B-binding sequences, but mutations at these sites indicated that neither is responsive to cooperation with the 21-bp enhancer. A deletion mutation of TRE-2 identified 25 bases at positions -158 to -134 (TRE-2S) as an essential sequence, and TRE-2S was sufficient to give maximum cooperation with one copy of the 21-bp enhancer in trans activation by Tax protein. Using TRE-2S as a probe, we screened a cDNA library of HUT102 cells by the Southwestern (DNA-protein) procedure and isolated two cDNA clones, THP-1 and -2. These two clones encode TRE-2S-binding proteins, and they differ by only an extra 17 amino acids in THP-2. Both THP proteins contain five zinc finger motifs which are strikingly similar to those of the GLI family, an amplified gene product in glyoma cells. The binding site of THP-1 and -2 was GAACCACCCA in TRE-2S, which is highly homologous to the GLI-binding site. These results suggest that binding of THP to TRE-2S may be involved in cooperation with one copy of the 21-bp enhancer in responding to Tax trans activation.

A trans-activator Tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 binds to NF-kappa B p50 and serum response factor (SRF) and associates with enhancer DNAs of the NF-kappa B site and CArG box

A transcriptional activator of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) activates at least three distinct enhancers: the viral 21-bp enhancer, the NF-kappa B binding site of the IL-2R alpha gene and the CArG box of the c-fos gene. To understand the mechanisms of Tax transactivations of the NF-kappa B enhancer and CArG box, the interactions of Tax protein with their binding factors were analysed. Using a DNA affinity precipitation (DNAP) assay, we found here that Tax associates with the DNA sequences of the NF-kappa B site and CArG box. These Tax associations with enhancers were observed only in the presence of a nuclear factor(s) and were equal to the activating capacities of Tax mutants. To identify the nuclear factor(s), we defined conditions under which no Tax binding to the NF-kappa B binding site and CArG box was detected with a nuclear extract of 293T cells. Under these conditions, transfections with cDNAs of the NF-kappa B p50 and serum response factor (SRF) produced a factor(s) that mediated Tax binding to the NF-kappa B site and the CArG box respectively. Furthermore, purified Tax protein interacted with purified NF-kappa B p50 and purified SRF, indicating their direct bindings. These observations indicate that Tax protein associates with enhancer sequences of the NF-kappa B site and CArG box through NF-kappa B p50 and SRF respectively. Previously we demonstrated that Tax interacts with CREB and CREM proteins that bind to the 21-bp enhancer DNA. These results together suggest that indirect binding of Tax to DNA through each enhancer binding protein is a general mechanism for Tax transactivation of transcription.

Activation of the human T-cell leukemia virus type I enhancer is mediated by binding sites for Elf-1 and the pets factor

Infection with human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia. This disease occurs in only a small minority of people infected with HTLV-I and manifests itself many years after infection. Therefore, it appears that a fine balance exists between HTLV-I and the host T-cell factors with which it interacts. HTLV-I encodes a transactivating protein, Tax, which activates viral transcription via cellular mechanisms which are incompletely understood. As viral gene expression is negligible during latency, it is doubtful that Tax controls the initial transition to the replicative state. Tax-independent cellular factors which control HTLV-I transcription, and presumably latency, have received little study. Recently, the product of the chicken proto-oncogene ets-1 has been shown to bind to the HTLV-I enhancer and modestly activate transcription in certain cell types (S. C. Gitlin, R. Bosselut, A. Gégonne, J. Ghysdael, and J. N. Brady, J. Virol. 65:5513-5523, 1991). However, the functional significance of the ets-binding site in the intact enhancer has not previously been shown. We now demonstrate that site-specific mutation of the purine-rich ets-binding site significantly diminishes inducible enhancer function, but not Tax response, in the human Jurkat T-cell line. Similarly, mutation of the peri-ets (pets) site, not previously noted in the HTLV-I enhancer, markedly inhibits inducible enhancer function but not Tax response. Further, we show that the predominant protein binding the purine-rich HTLV-I enhancer element in human T cells is not ets-1 but Elf-1, a member of the ets family which is very similar to the Drosophila morphogen E74. Regulation of HTLV-I through Elf-1/pets enhancer motifs resembles that seen with human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (D. M. Markovitz, M. Smith, J. Hilfinger, M. C. Hannibal, B. Petryniak, and G. J. Nabel, J. Virol. 66:5479-5484, 1992; J. M. Leiden, C.-W. Wang, B. Petryniak, M. Smith, D. M. Markovitz, G. J. Nabel, and C. B. Thompson, J. Virol. 66:5890-5897, 1992), another human pathogenic retrovirus with a relatively long incubation period.

Purification by DNA affinity precipitation of the cellular factors HEB1-p67 and HEB1-p94 which bind specifically to the human T-cell leukemia virus type-I 21 bp enhancer

Transcription driven by the proviral promoter of the Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type I (HTLV-I) is tightly regulated by the Tax1 transactivator. This viral protein potently induces the enhancer activity of a 21 bp motif repeated three times in the promoter. We have previously shown that this induction results from the binding of Tax1 to this enhancer sequence and that this association is mediated by the cellular factor HEB1. In this paper we report the purification of this factor by chromatography and DNA affinity precipitation. The latter method allowed a rapid and efficient purification which led to the identification of two polypeptides with molecular masses of 94- and 67-kDa, named HEB1-p94 and HEB1-p67, respectively. DMS methylation interference and UV crosslinking experiments indicated that both proteins formed different nucleo-protein complexes, but had the same DNA specificity. Study of the interaction of these two proteins with Tax1 showed that only HEB1-p67 can specifically interact with Tax1.

Member of the CREB/ATF protein family, but not CREB alpha plays an active role in BLV tax trans activation in vivo

The trans activator protein of Bovine Leukaemia Virus (tax) increases the rate of transcription from the virus promoter through 21 bp sequences located in three tandem copies in the virus LTR. Based on data obtained by three different experimental approaches we concluded that the central CRE-like motif found in each of the BLV 21 bp repeats plays an important and indispensable role in tax mediated trans activation. These include (i) in vivo analysis of the function of mutant 21 bp sequences in transient transfection, (ii) gel mobility shift assay to show that CREB binds to BLV 21 bp repeats in vitro and (iii) the demonstration that the production of antisense CREB mRNA inhibits tax trans activation. Further studies with different deletion mutant CREB proteins suggest that although CREB alpha can interact with factors involved in BLV trans activation, it does not promote transcription initiation; consequently some other member/s of the CREB/ATF family must be involved.

Organization and expression of intermediate filaments in epithelial cells expressing the HTLV-I Tax protein

Intermediate filaments (IF) represent major components of the cytoskeletal network. These proteins which are differentially expressed according to the cell type, constitute a dynamic structure which not only contributes to the cell architecture but also defines its state of differentiation. Furthermore, numerous observations have shown that the IF network is altered in cells transformed by tumorigenic viruses. We have previously demonstrated that HTLV-I (human T-cell leukemia virus type I) transformed T cells were characterized by a high level of vimentin transcripts and that the HTLV-I Tax regulatory protein was able to transactivate the vimentin promoter transfected into Jurkat and HeLa cells. To enlarge the scope of this study, we investigated the effects of the Tax protein on the expression and organization of IF of epithelial cells in which the IF network is composed of vimentin and cytokeratin. To this aim, we have developed a model of epithelial cells (HeLa) stably expressing the tax sequences which were introduced by using retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Half of the Tax expressing HeLa clones were loosely adherent to the culture surface and were displaying remarkable morphological alterations, as ascertained by the presence of round-shaped or spindle-shaped cells. In these cells, expression of this viral protein correlated to a pronounced disruption in the distribution of both the vimentin and the cytokeratin networks, as shown by immunofluorescence and ultrastructural analysis. Indeed, vimentin filaments appeared to be concentrated in discrete spots throughout the cytoplasm, while the cytokeratin filaments appeared to form a dense ring around the nucleus. More importantly, mRNA and protein analysis indicate an enhanced expression of the cytokeratin 7 gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Twenty-one base pair repeat elements influence the ability of a Gal4-Tax fusion protein to transactivate the HTLV-I long terminal repeat

The Tax1 protein of the human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I) is a 40-kDa positive transactivator of viral gene expression. Tax1 does not bind directly to DNA, but associates indirectly with DNA via cellular transcription factors. To further investigate the activation of HTLV-I transcription by Tax1, a chimeric protein containing Tax1 fused to the DNA binding domain of Gal4 was created (Gal4-Tax). HTLV-I long terminal repeat (LTR) reporter plasmids were constructed in which specific Tax1 responsive elements were replaced with Gal4 binding sites. Cotransfection of Gal4-Tax or Tax1 with HTLV-I LTR reporter constructs containing Gal4 binding sites demonstrated that Gal4 sequences were necessary but not sufficient for maximal activation of the promoter by Gal4-Tax. Sequences surrounding the Gal4 binding sites were important in determining the level of Gal4-Tax activation. Association of Gal4-Tax with promoters which contained six Gal4 binding sites, but which lacked flanking LTR sequences, were weakly transactivated by Gal4-Tax (sevenfold). In contrast, LTR-CAT reporter constructs containing three Gal4 binding sites flanked by two 21 base pair repeat elements demonstrated a ninefold greater response to Gal4-Tax. These results suggest that cellular transcription factors, which bind the 21 base pair repeat elements, influence the ability of Tax1 to function as a transactivator. Furthermore, this effect is not fully explained by the ability of these factors to physically direct Tax1 to the LTR.

The lymphotoxin promoter is stimulated by HTLV-I tax activation of NF-kappa B in human T-cell lines

The HTLV-I transcriptional activator tax was used to gain insight into the mechanism of lymphotoxin (LT; TNF-beta) gene induction. Tax-expressing cell lines produce LT biologic activity. An LT promoter (LT-293) CAT construct that contained an NF-kappa B site was active in the LT-producing C81-66-45 cell line, which contains defective HTLV-I but expresses tax. The observation that a mutated LT-kappa B construct (M1-CAT) was inactive in C81-66-45, confirmed the importance of NF-kappa B in LT gene expression. Tax was transfected into HTLV-I-negative human T-cell lines. Jurkat T cells stably expressing tax contained elevated levels of NF-kappa B that directly bound to the LT-kappa B site. Tax co-transfected with reporter constructs into Jurkat cells maximally activated HTLV-I-LTR-CAT and kappa B-fos-CAT and also activated LT-293 to a lesser extent. In JM T cells, tax induced LT-293 activity by two- to four-fold, though there was no induction of M1-CAT. The increase in LT-293 CAT activity mirrored the increase in LT biologic activity seen under these conditions. These studies, the first to demonstrate induction of LT promoter activity over basal levels, indicate that HTLV-I tax causes low-level activation of both endogenous LT and the LT promoter, at least in part through activation of NF-kappa B.

Phorbol esters modulate the phosphorylation of human T-cell leukemia virus type I Tax

The Tax protein from human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is a 40-kDa phosphoprotein capable of activating transcription from its own long terminal repeat (LTR), as well as increasing the transcription of cellular genes. Transcriptional activation of the HTLV-I LTR has been demonstrated via a cyclic-AMP-responsive element within the 21-bp Tax-responsive elements of the LTR. Phorbol esters also upregulate expression via the LTR. Since phosphorylation of Tax may play a role in these processes, we investigated the relative effects of kinase-stimulating agents on 32P incorporation into Tax. Our studies demonstrated that the phorbol ester 4 beta-phorbol-12 beta-myristate-13 alpha-acetate greatly stimulated Tax phosphorylation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In contrast, 8-bromoadenosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate induced little stimulation of Tax phosphorylation. Tax phosphorylation occurred only on serine residues and was mapped to a single tryptic fragment in both Tax-producing human lymphocytes and mouse fibroblast cells.

Cloning of a cDNA encoding a DNA-binding protein TAXREB302 that is specific for the tax-responsive enhancer of HTLV-I

The transcriptional activator, Tax, of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-I) has been considered to interact with cellular proteins to act on target enhancer motifs. Using oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing the tax-responsive element (TAXRE) of the HTLV-I enhancer, we have cloned multiple cDNAs coding for TAXRE-binding proteins (TAXREB), and determined the cDNA and the deduced 200-amino-acid sequences for TAXREB302. The recombinant protein binds to the enhancer DNA by specific interaction to the CRE-like sequence. A single 1.8-kb species of mRNA was detected in cultured cells, as well as in normal human tissues, especially brain and skeletal muscle. The 22-kDa native protein was detected in the cultured-cell lysate by immunoblotting analysis. TAXREB302 does not have structural features common to the CRE-binding protein or activating transcription factor (CREB/ATF) family, but has homology to chicken erythroid transcription factor (Eryf1 or GATA-1), suggesting a possible protein-protein interaction.

Isolation and characterization of a novel member of the gene family encoding the cAMP response element-binding protein CRE-BP1

Among multiple CRE (cyclic AMP response element)-binding proteins, CRE-BP1 (also designated ATF-2) has two unique characteristics: it mediates the adenovirus E1A-induced trans-activation and forms a heterodimer with c-Jun. Two structures, a putative metal finger and a leucine zipper, in CRE-BP1 are responsible for these capacities. As a new member of a CRE-BP1 family that has similar metal finger and leucine zipper structures, we have isolated cDNA clones of CRE-BPa by cross-hybridization with CRE-BP1 cDNA. CRE-BPa protein consists of 508 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 56,840. CRE-BPa protein is highly homologous with CRE-BP1 in four regions: two of them are the regions containing the putative metal finger or the DNA-binding domain consisting of the basic amino acid cluster and the leucine zipper. Like CRE-BP1, CRE-BPa binds to CRE with higher affinity than to the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate response element as a homodimer or a CRE-BPa/c-Jun or CRE-BPa/CRE-BP1 heterodimer. However, using the c-Myb-CRE-BPa fusion protein, it was show that CRE-BPa could not mediate the E1A-induced trans-activation. Expression of CRE-BPa mRNA was found in a limited number of cell lines, and multiple sizes of CRE-BPa mRNA species were detected in some cell lines and tissues. CRE-BPa will be useful to clarify the mechanism of CRE-mediated transcriptional activation by E1A or c-Jun.

Isolation of a cDNA clone encoding DNA-binding protein (TAXREB107) that binds specifically to domain C of the tax-responsive enhancer element in the long terminal repeat of human T-cell leukemia virus type I

Five cDNA clones for TAXREB proteins that bind to the tax-responsive enhancer element of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) were isolated from a Jurkat cell cDNA library. The beta-galactosidase fusion proteins of three of these clones specifically recognized the domain C within the enhancer. One of the three cDNAs, encoding TAXREB107, contained an open reading frame with 288 amino acid residues. RNA blot analysis showed that the level of mRNA for TAXREB107 increased transiently in Jurkat cells on treatment with TPA. Immunoblot analysis showed that polyclonal antibody against TAXREB107 specifically recognized a 34-kD protein in Jurkat cells. TAXREB107 may participate in tax-mediated trans-activation of transcription.

Differentiation of a medulloblastoma cell line towards an astrocytic lineage using the human T lymphotropic retrovirus-1

Constituent cells of medulloblastoma, the most common brain tumor occurring in childhood, resemble the primitive neuroepithelial cells normally found in the developing nervous system. However, mutational events prevent their further differentiation. We used the human T cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 to activate these deregulated immature cells by means of its transactivating protein Tax. Concomitant with viral infection was a decrease in cell proliferation characterized by inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation and in the number of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Morphological changes suggested that medulloblastoma cells differentiated along the astrocytic lineage. The glial phenotype was confirmed by the induction of the glial fibrillary acidic protein and the glial enzyme glutamine synthetase. A direct viral effect and/or secondary effects to viral infection via paracrine/autocrine pathways could counterbalance the maturational defect in these medulloblastoma cells.

The trans-activator tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) interacts with cAMP-responsive element (CRE) binding and CRE modulator proteins that bind to the 21-base-pair enhancer of HTLV-1

The trans-activator protein Tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) activates the viral 21-base-pair (bp) enhancer in the long terminal repeat and has been suggested to associate indirectly with the enhancer DNA. To demonstrate this, we used DNA-affinity precipitation assay and detected the Tax protein in 21-bp DNA-protein complexes isolated from HTLV-1-infected cells. To identify cellular components in the complexes, we tested various 21-bp DNA-binding proteins by gel electrophoretic mobility-shift assay. Each binding protein gave a shifted band of each 21-bp DNA-protein complex, and exogenously added Tax protein further shifted these bands of cAMP-responsive element (CRE) binding protein (CREB) and CRE modulator but did not shift other bands. Anti-Tax antibodies blocked formation of the complex, indicating complex formations of [Tax-CREB(or CRE modulator)-21-bp DNA]. The formations of these complexes paralleled the functional activities of Tax mutants. Furthermore, the Tax-CREB complex was detected in a nuclear extract of HTLV-1-infected cells, and the Tax-CREB-21-bp-DNA complex was demonstrated as a major component of Tax complexes containing the 21-bp DNA probe. These observations indicate that Tax protein binds to CREB and CRE modulator and the complexes then bind to the 21-bp enhancer, suggesting that the complex binding to the enhancer mediates trans-activation of transcription.

Mutational analysis of human T-cell leukemia virus type I Tax: regions necessary for function determined with 47 mutant proteins

We have made 47 mutations that span the length of the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) Tax open reading frame. Of the 47 mutations, 38 were substitutions of single amino acids, 5 were missense changes in two or more amino acids, and 4 were deletions. A subset of these mutations includes individual changes of all 26 naturally occurring serines to alanines. By assaying each mutant protein separately on the HTLV-I long terminal repeat (LTR) and the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) LTR in parallel, we were able to identify regions of Tax selectively necessary for each promoter. A small region in the carboxyl terminus, amino acids 315 to 325, was found to be selectively important for activation of the HTLV-I LTR. Three changes at serine 113, serine 160, and serine 258 were found to specifically affect function on the HIV-1 LTR. Surprisingly, we found that the great preponderance of missense changes (32 of 42) in Tax did not affect function.

Expression and characterization of the trans-activating protein Tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type I in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The trans-activator protein Tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) stimulates transcription of the viral genome from the long terminal repeat. With a reporter HIS4TATA::lacZ fusion gene, the transcriptional activity of the Tax-responsive element in the long terminal repeat was tested in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We found that fragments containing the 21-bp repeat of the HTLV-I enhancer stimulate synthesis of beta-galactosidase activity 15- to 20-fold. To test the ability of the Tax protein to trans activate the HTLV-I enhancer in yeast cells, the pX region of HTLV-I, encoding the Tax protein, was cloned under the control of the yeast GAL1 promoter. The expressed Tax protein is localized in the nucleus and associated with the yeast nuclear matrix fraction. In yeast cells that contained the integrated tax gene, two- to sixfold stimulation of expression from the HTLV-I enhancer was detected at the early stages of tax induction. This in vivo reconstitution system provides a new approach for examining the host factor(s), the signal transduction mechanism(s), and the role of nuclear architecture involved in Tax-mediated trans activation.

Strong trans activation of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early enhancer by p40tax of human T-cell leukemia virus type I via two repetitive tax-responsive sequence elements

The immediate-early 1 and 2 gene locus of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) that encodes trans-activator proteins with effects on both homologous and heterologous promoters is expressed under control of a complex enhancer/promoter regulatory region. This enhancer contains four types of repetitive sequence elements with 17, 18, 19, and 21 bp that bind cellular transcription factors. Although the HCMV enhancer acts as a powerful stimulator of transcription in most cell types examined, human T cells do not support strong activity. The present study demonstrates that the tax gene product of human T-cell leukemia virus type I trans activates the major enhancer of HCMV more than 60-fold in the T-cell line Jurkat. When a series of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression plasmids containing synthetic oligonucleotides with the 17-, 18-, 19-, or 21-bp motif upstream of a minimal immediate-early 1 and 2 gene promoter was tested, two of the four repeat motifs could be identified as Tax-responsive elements. Both the 18- and the 19-bp motifs were able to act as strong Tax-responsive elements even when they were present as single copies. Thus, in addition to interacting with human immunodeficiency virus, HCMV is able to interact with a second retrovirus of clinical importance.