Characterization of the cis elements involved in basal and E2-transactivated expression of the bovine papillomavirus P2443 promoter

The papillomavirus E2 proteins

The papillomavirus E2 proteins are pivotal to the viral life cycle and have well characterized functions in transcriptional regulation, initiation of DNA replication and partitioning the viral genome. The E2 proteins also function in vegetative DNA replication, post-transcriptional processes and possibly packaging. This review describes structural and functional aspects of the E2 proteins and their binding sites on the viral genome. It is intended to be a reference guide to this viral protein.

Amino acid-anticodon binding specificity: rationale for a new class of therapeutic agent

In this article a new class of anticancer and antiviral drugs is discussed. These new drugs consist of small di- and tri-peptides, designed to bind to single-stranded (ss) regions that are crucial for the expression of genes such as the c-myc oncogene in cancers and start sites (and other ss regions) of viral pathogenic genes. The components (i.e. the amino acids and the sequences they form) of these peptides could be dictated by the specific binding of amino acids to their ss anticodons in tRNA. Cancer cell viability depends on the continued overexpression of the c-myc oncogene, and thus this gene is a target of opportunity for anticancer agents. Sharply reducing the overexpression of c-myc leads to the death of cancer cells. To achieve this end the following rationale is suggested: crucial regions of the c-myc promoters (to which activating proteins must bind for expression to occur) are single stranded and thus strongly resemble the anticodon loop of tRNA. It was found that amino acids chemically bind to their cognate tRNA anticodons. Regarding the ss regions of c-myc as a series of adjacent 'anticodons', di- and tri-peptides are proposed to be aligned to their cognate 'anticodons' in the proper order. For example, if the ss region of a promoter is hypothetically TTT-GGG-CCC, the tripeptide Lys-Pro-Gly could be expected to bind to it and deny access of the promoter to all activating proteins, thereby blocking c-myc expression and all the cancers dependent on such overexpression. Similarly, it is reported that in the initial phase of gene expression the start sites of the genes are single stranded (before and after and spanning the start site). Thus, invoking the amino acid cognate anticodon binding specificity (ACABS) principle as described above, a series of small peptides are suggested that could span the start sites of pathogenic viral genes (e.g. the oris region of herpes simplex virus (HSV)) to deny access of the gene to the transcription elements. This would inactivate the toxic effect of the virus and thereby constitute a promising approach to antiviral therapy, where the start sites (or other ss regions of pathogenic genes) have been sequenced. The ACABS principle (for peptide-nucleic-acid interaction) enables us to focus on probable effective small peptides rather than having to screen a large number of randomly chosen small peptides to find probable anticancer and antiviral therapeutic agents.

Cellular factors are required to activate bovine papillomavirus-1 early gene transcription and to establish viral plasmid persistence but are not required for cellular transformation

Transcription from the major upstream early gene promoter, P89, of bovine papillomavirus (BPV)-1 is detectable in transfected cells lacking viral gene products yet also responds to viral E2 proteins. In contrast to human papillomaviruses (HPVs), the BPV upstream regulatory region (URR) functions as a transcriptional enhancer in epithelial cells and fibroblasts of bovine, murine or human origin. Mutations of Sp1 and/or two novel transcriptional enhancer factor (TEF)-1 sites within the 5' URR of the intact BPV-1 genome dramatically reduced P89-initiated mRNA levels, leading to decreased BPV-1 plasmid amplification and inefficient formation of transformed cell foci. However, cell lines transformed with wt or mutant BPV-1 genomes contained similar levels of unintegrated BPV-1 DNA, P89 mRNA and E2-dependent transactivation. We conclude that cellular factors necessary for activating viral early gene transcription, establishment of viral plasmid replication and cell immortalization are not required during the maintenance phase of BPV-1 infection.

Regulation of bovine papillomavirus type 1 gene expression by RNA processing

Bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) has served as a prototype for studying the molecular biology and pathogenesis of papillomaviruses. The expression of BPV-1 early and late genes is highly regulated at both transcription and post-transcriptional levels and strictly tied to the differentiation of keratinocytes. BPV-1 infects keratinocytes in the basal layer of the skin and replicates in the nucleus of infected cells in a differentiation-dependent manner. Although viral early genes begin to be expressed from the infected, undifferentiated basal cells, viral late genes are not expressed until the infected cells enter the terminal differentiation stage. Both BPV-1 early and late transcripts are intron-containing bicistronic or polycistronic RNAs, bearing more than one open reading frame and are polyadenylated at either an early or late poly (A) site. Nuclear RNA processing of these transcripts by RNA splicing and poly (A) site selection has been extensively analyzed in the past decade and various viral cis-elements and cellular factors involved in regulation of viral RNA processing were discovered, leading to our better understanding of the gene expression and biology of human papillomaviruses.

Variant upstream regulatory region sequences differentially regulate human papillomavirus type 16 DNA replication throughout the viral life cycle

While the central role of the viral upstream regulatory region (URR) in the human papillomavirus (HPV) life cycle has been well established, its effects on viral replication factor expression and plasmid replication of HPV type 16 (HPV16) remain unclear. Some nonprototypic variants of HPV16 contain altered URR sequences and are considered to increase the oncogenic risk of infections. To determine the relationship between viral replication and variant URRs, hybrid viral genomes were constructed with the replication-competent HPV16 prototype W12 and analyzed in assays which recapitulate the different phases of normal viral replication. The establishment efficiencies of hybrid HPV16 genomes differed about 20-fold among European prototypes and variants from Africa and America. Generally, European and African genomes exhibited the lowest replication efficiencies. The high replication levels observed with American variants were primarily attributable to their efficient expression of the replication factors E1 and E2. The maintenance levels of these viral genomes varied about fivefold, which correlated with their respective establishment phenotypes and published P(97) activities. Vegetative DNA amplification could also be observed with replicating HPV16 genomes. These results indicate that efficient E1/E2 expression and elevated plasmid replication levels during the persistent stage of infection may comprise a risk factor in HPV16-mediated oncogenesis.

Crystal structure of the E2 transactivation domain of human papillomavirus type 11 bound to a protein interaction inhibitor

Interaction between the E2 protein and E1 helicase of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) is essential for the initiation of viral DNA replication. We recently described a series of small molecules that bind to the N-terminal transactivation domain (TAD) of HPV type 11 E2 and inhibits its interaction with E1 in vitro and in cellular assays. Here we report the crystal structures of both the HPV11 TAD and of a complex between this domain and an inhibitor, at 2.5- and 2.4-A resolution, respectively. The HPV11 TAD structure is very similar to that of the analogous domain of HPV16. Inhibitor binding caused no significant alteration of the protein backbone, but movements of several amino acid side chains at the binding site, in particular those of Tyr-19, His-32, Leu-94, and Glu-100, resulted in the formation of a deep hydrophobic pocket that accommodates the indandione moiety of the inhibitor. Mutational analysis provides functional evidence for specific interactions between Tyr-19 and E1 and between His-32 and the inhibitor. A second inhibitor molecule is also present at the binding pocket. Although evidence is presented that this second molecule makes only weak interactions with the protein and is likely an artifact of crystallization, its presence defines additional regions of the binding pocket that could be exploited to design more potent inhibitors.

Tyrphostin AG 555 inhibits bovine papillomavirus transcription by changing the ratio between E2 transactivator/repressor function

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor (tyrphostin) AG 555 selectively interferes with viral transcription in bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1)-transformed fibroblasts and induces suppression of cyclin-dependent kinase activity and cell cycle arrest. Concomitant with inhibition of viral transcription, c-Jun was strongly up-regulated, which was consistent with the observation that AG 555 treatment also led to an activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway by enhancing phosphorylation of JNK and p38. Increased JNK and p38 activity resulted in higher phosphorylation of the AP-1 family members c-Jun and activating transcription factor 2. Scanning the BPV-1 genome for potential binding sequences, an intragenic AP-1 site (BAP-1) within the E7 open reading frame was detected. Enhanced dimerization of phosphorylated activating transcription factor 2 together with c-Jun and binding to BAP-1 seem to be responsible for viral dysregulation because both suppression of BPV-1 and induction of c-Jun mRNA could be almost entirely abrogated by simultaneous treatment with SB 203580, an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity. Moreover, dissecting the complex transcriptional pattern of episomal BPV-1 with specific primer sets for reverse transcription-PCR analysis, the repressive effect could be attributed to a selective down-regulation of the mRNA encoding the E2 transactivator function in favor of the E2 repressor, whose mRNA level remained constant during AG 555 treatment. These data indicate that tyrphostin AG 555 disturbs the balance of negative and positive regulatory factors necessary to maintain the homeostasis of a virus-transformed phenotype.

Cooperative activation of human papillomavirus type 8 gene expression by the E2 protein and the cellular coactivator p300

The E2 proteins of papillomaviruses (PV) bind to the coactivator CBP/p300 as do many other transcription factors, but the precise role of CBP/p300 in E2-specific functions is not yet understood. We show that the E2 protein of human PV type 8 (HPV8) directly binds to p300. Activation of HPV8 gene expression by low amounts of HPV8 E2 was stimulated up to sevenfold by coexpression of p300. The interaction between E2 and p300 may play a role in differentiation-dependent activation of PV gene expression, since we can show that the expression level of p300 increases during keratinocyte differentiation. Surprisingly, sequence-specific binding of E2 to its recognition sites within the regulatory region of HPV8 is not necessary for this cooperation, indicating that E2 can be recruited to the promoter via protein-protein interaction. HPV8 E2 binds via its N-terminal activation domain (AD), its C-terminal DNA binding domain (DBD), and its internal hinge region to p300 in vitro. Transient-transfection assays revealed that the AD is necessary and sufficient for cooperative activation with p300. However, we provide evidence that the interaction of the hinge and the DBD of HPV8 E2 with p300 may contribute. Our data suggest an important role of p300 in regulation of HPV8 gene expression and reveal a new mechanism by which E2 may be recruited to a promoter to activate transcription without sequence specific DNA binding.

Human papillomavirus type 31 replication modes during the early phases of the viral life cycle depend on transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of E1 and E2 expression

The E1 and E2 proteins are both required for papillomavirus DNA replication, and replication efficiency is controlled by the abundance of these factors. In human papillomaviruses (HPVs), the regulation of E1 and E2 expression and its effect on viral replication are not well understood. In particular, it is not known if E1 and E2 modulate their own expression and how posttranscriptional mechanisms may affect the levels of the replication proteins. Previous studies have implicated splicing within the E6 open reading frame (ORF) as being important for modulating replication of HPV type 31 (HPV31) through altered expression of E1 and E2. To analyze the function of the E6 intron in viral replication more specifically, we examined the effects of E6 splicing mutations in the context of entire viral genomes in transient assays. HPV31 genomes which had mutations in the splice donor site (E6SD) or the splice acceptor site (E6SA), a deletion of the intron (E6ID), or substituted heterologous intron sequences (E6IS) were constructed. Compared to wild-type (wt) HPV31, pHPV31-E6SD, -E6SA, and -E6IS replicated inefficiently while pHPV31-E6ID replicated at an intermediate level. Cotransfection of the E6 mutant genomes with an E1 expression vector strongly activated their replication levels, indicating that efficient expression of E1 requires E6 internal splicing. In contrast, replication was activated only moderately with an E2 expression vector. Replacing the wt E6 intron in HPV31 with a heterologous intron from simian virus 40 (E6SR2) resulted in replication levels similar to that of the wt in the absence of expression vectors, suggesting that mRNA splicing upstream of the E1 ORF is important for high-level replication. To examine the effects of E6 intron splicing on E1 and E2 expression directly, we constructed reporter DNAs in which the luciferase coding sequences were fused in frame to the E1 (E1Luc) or E2 (E2Luc) gene. Reporter activities were then analyzed in transient assays with cotransfected E1 or E2 expression vectors. Both reporters were moderately activated by E1 in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, E1Luc was activated by low doses of E2 but was repressed at high doses. In contrast, E2 had little effect on E2Luc activity. These data indicate that E1 expression and that of E2 are interdependent and regulated differentially. When the E6 splicing mutations were analyzed in both reporter backgrounds, only E1Luc activities correlated with splicing competence in the E6 ORF. These findings support the hypothesis that the E6 intron primarily regulates expression of E1. Finally, in long-term replication assays, none of the E6 mutant genomes could be stably maintained. However, cotransfection of the E6 splicing mutant genomes with pHPV31-E7NS, which contains a nonsense mutation in the E7 coding sequence, restored stable replication of some mutants. Our observations indicate that E1 expression and that of E2 are differentially regulated at multiple levels and that efficient expression of E1 is required for transient and stable viral replication. These regulatory mechanisms likely act to control HPV copy number during the various phases of the viral life cycle.

The hinge region of the human papillomavirus type 8 E2 protein activates the human p21(WAF1/CIP1) promoter via interaction with Sp1

The E2 proteins regulate papillomavirus (PV) gene expression by sequence-specific DNA binding. However, E2 is also able to activate in the absence of E2 binding sites. We show here that the E2 protein of human PV type 8 (HPV8) can activate the expression of p21(WAF1/CIP1) via promoter-proximal 200 nucleotides, which contain several Sp1 binding sites and no E2 binding sites. HPV8 E2 lacking the activation domain, which is rather conserved among E2 proteins, cooperated with co-expressed Sp1 in stimulation of the p21(WAF1/CIP1) promoter, in contrast to HPV18 E2 lacking the activation domain. We can demonstrate that the internal non-conserved hinge region of HPV8 E2 is sufficient for this functional cooperativity with Sp1. In correlation, the hinge of HPV8 E2 directly binds to Sp1. These results suggest that HPV8 E2 might be able to 'super'-activate Sp1-mediated transcription by a direct interaction via the non-conserved hinge region.

A new cellular factor recognizes E2 binding sites of papillomaviruses which mediate transcriptional repression by E2

Repression of transcription by the full-length E2 protein of papillomaviruses (PV) seems to occur when the E2 binding sites and those of positively acting cellular factors overlap. Previously, we showed that RUNX1 (formerly called CBF) binds to the repression-mediating E2 binding site P2 of human PV type 8 (HPV8). By a yeast one-hybrid system we could identify an unknown protein binding also to P2, tentatively called PBF (papillomavirus binding factor). PBF recognizes the sequence CCGG, which represents the 3' half of the E2 binding site just adjacent to the RUNX1 motif. PBF also binds to the repression-mediating E2 BS-1 in BPV1, which is conserved to P2 of HPV8. Point mutations destroying PBF binding to HPV8 P2 and BPV-1 E2 BS-1 in vitro reduce promoter activity in corresponding reporter constructs. Our results suggest that PBF might play a role in transcription of PV genes and in E2-mediated repression.

Papillomavirus E2 induces senescence in HPV-positive cells via pRB- and p21(CIP)-dependent pathways

A hallmark of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated carcinogenesis is the integration of the viral DNA into the cellular genome, usually accompanied by the loss of expression of the viral E2 gene. E2 binds to and represses the viral promoter directing expression of the E6 and E7 oncogenes. The re-introduction and expression of exogenous E2 in HPV-positive cancer cells results in cellular growth arrest, while growth in the context of exogenous E2 can be restored through the expression of exogenous E6 and E7. Here we examine the individual contributions of the viral E6 and E7 genes to this phenotype. E6 alone displays moderate activity, whereas both E7 and adenovirus E1A display high activity in reversing E2-mediated cellular growth suppression. Using defined mutants of E7 and E1A, we show that an intact retinoblastoma interaction domain is required for this function. In addition, we show that the E2-mediated growth arrest of HPV-positive cells results in cellular senescence, and implicate the cyclin/cdk inhibitor p21(CIP) as a downstream E2 effector in this phenotype.

Human papillomavirus type 16 E6 induces self-ubiquitination of the E6AP ubiquitin-protein ligase

The E6 protein of the high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and the cellular ubiquitin-protein ligase E6AP form a complex which causes the ubiquitination and degradation of p53. We show here that HPV16 E6 promotes the ubiquitination and degradation of E6AP itself. The half-life of E6AP is shorter in HPV-positive cervical cancer cells than in HPV-negative cervical cancer cells, and E6AP is stabilized in HPV-positive cancer cells when expression of the viral oncoproteins is repressed. Expression of HPV16 E6 in cells results in a threefold decrease in the half-life of transfected E6AP. E6-mediated degradation of E6AP requires (i) the binding of E6 to E6AP, (ii) the catalytic activity of E6AP, and (iii) activity of the 26S proteasome, suggesting that E6-E6AP interaction results in E6AP self-ubiquitination and degradation. In addition, both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicate that E6AP self-ubiquitination results primarily from an intramolecular transfer of ubiquitin from the active-site cysteine to one or more lysine residues; however, intermolecular transfer can also occur in the context of an E6-mediated E6AP multimer. Finally, we demonstrate that an E6 mutant that is able to immortalize human mammary epithelial cells but is unable to degrade p53 retains its ability to bind and degrade E6AP, raising the possibility that E6-mediated degradation of E6AP contributes to its ability to transform mammalian cells.

Repression of the integrated papillomavirus E6/E7 promoter is required for growth suppression of cervical cancer cells

The human papillomavirus (HPV) E2 protein is an important regulator of viral E6 and E7 gene expression. E2 can repress the viral promoter for E6 and E7 expression as well as block progression of the cell cycle in cancer cells harboring the DNA of "high-risk" HPV types. Although the phenomenon of E2-mediated growth arrest of HeLa cells and other HPV-positive cancer cells has been well documented, the specific mechanism by which E2 affects cellular proliferation has not yet been elucidated. Here, we show that bovine papillomavirus (BPV) E2-induced growth arrest of HeLa cells requires the repression of the E6 and E7 promoter. This repression is specific for E2TA and not E2TR, a BPV E2 variant that lacks the N-terminal transactivation domain. We demonstrate that expression of HPV16 E6 and E7 from a heterologous promoter that is not regulated by E2 rescues HeLa cells from E2-mediated growth arrest. Our data indicate that the pathway of E2-mediated growth arrest of HeLa cells requires repression of E6 and E7 expression through an activity specified by the transactivation domain of E2TA.

Crystal structure of the human papillomavirus type 18 E2 activation domain

The papillomavirus E2 protein regulates viral transcription and DNA replication through interactions with cellular and viral proteins. The amino-terminal activation domain, which represents a protein class whose structural themes are poorly understood, contains key residues that mediate these functional contacts. The crystal structure of a protease-resistant core of the human papillomavirus type 18 E2 activation domain reveals a novel fold creating a cashew-shaped form with a glutamine-rich alpha helix packed against a beta-sheet framework. The protein surface shows extensive overlap of determinants for replication and transcription. The structure broadens the concept of activators to include proteins with potentially malleable, but certainly ordered, structures.

Crystal structure of the E2 DNA-binding domain from human papillomavirus type 16: implications for its DNA binding-site selection mechanism

The crystal structure of the E2 DNA-binding domain from the high-risk cervical cancer-associated strain human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) is described here. The papillomavirus E2 proteins regulate transcription from all viral promoters and are required for the initiation of replication in vivo. They belong to a family of viral proteins that form dimeric beta-barrels and use surface alpha-helices for DNA interaction. Although all E2 proteins recognize the same consensus, palindromic DNA sequence, proteins from different viral strains differ in their abilities to discriminate among their specific DNA-binding sites. The structure reported here reveals that while the overall fold of the HPV-16 E2 DNA-binding domain resembles that of its counterpart from the related viral strain bovine papillomavirus type 1, the precise placement of the recognition helices is significantly different. Additionally, the charge distribution on the DNA-binding surfaces of the two proteins varies; HPV-16 E2 has a much less electropositive surface. HPV-16 E2 is thus less able to utilize charge neutralization of the phosphate groups on DNA to induce bending. These results correlate well with previous solution studies that showed decreased affinity between HPV-16 E2 and flexible DNA target sequences, and enhanced affinity towards A-tract-containing, pre-bent sequences. In summary, the crystal structure of the HPV-16 E2 DNA-binding domain shows that the protein presents a stereo-chemically and electrostatically unique surface to DNA, characteristics that can contribute to its mechanism of DNA target discrimination.

Inhibition/stimulation of bovine papillomavirus by adeno-associated virus is time as well as multiplicity dependent

Infection by adeno-associated virus (AAV) is associated with lower cervical cancer rates. We have been investigating the hypothesis that AAV interacts with and inhibits the role of human papillomaviruses (HPV) in cervical cancer. We have been studying the response of bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV) oncogenic transformation and DNA replication to AAV as a prototype system. The AAV Rep 78 gene product is responsible for this inhibition. Here, it is demonstrated that in two assay systems, focus formation of C127 cells and chloramphenicol acetyl-transferase (CAT, measuring P89 promoter expression) assays, the smaller the time interval between AAV introduction relative to BPV introduction, the higher the level of inhibition resulted. Preinfection with AAV was also effective in inhibiting BPV, but the effectiveness also decreased with increasing time intervals. These differences in inhibition demonstrate that the efficiency of AAV's inhibition of BPV changes dramatically with time (as much as 10(4) when delaying AAV infection) and possibly reflect temporal changes in viral gene expression by AAV, BPV, or both, which affect the AAV-papillomavirus interaction. It is further found that two different chimeric BPV/AAV genomes, equivalent to a specific simultaneous infection by these viruses at a specific ratio (which can't be duplicated by virus infection), were fully defective for oncogenic transformation and DNA replication. These chimeric BPV/AAV genomes were also able to trans-inhibit the wild-type BPV genome. Finally, and surprisingly, C127 cells with resident AAV Rep78 positive provirus were found to have increased sensitivity to oncogenic transformation by BPV. These data define the conditions under which an inhibitory affect of the AAV Rep78 gene on BPV phentotypes can be expected. However, under certain conditions AAV appears able to stimulate BPV oncogenic transformation. This final observation is not totally unexpected as Rep78 is a transcription factor known to both stimulate or repress AAV's own gene expression depending upon adenovirus coinfection.

A papillomavirus E2 phosphorylation mutant exhibits normal transient replication and transcription but is defective in transformation and plasmid retention

Papillomavirus DNA persists in infected cells as a nuclear plasmid, causing epithelial lesions in many hosts, including humans. The viral protein E2 is required for both replication and transcription to facilitate this persistence. Bovine papillomavirus E2 protein is phosphorylated at two predominant sites. Phosphorylation of one of these sites (serine 301) inhibits replication of the genome. Using mass spectrometry and Edman sequencing, we have mapped additional phosphorylation sites in tryptic peptides to positions which lie primarily in the putatively unstructured hinge region of E2. Mutation of the major sites facilitates transformation in the absence of viral repressors and only has a minor effect on transformation when the repressors are present. Mutation of the major phosphorylation sites combined with one additional change at a newly discovered site (serine 235) blocks transformation. Transformation can be restored by mutating this residue to aspartic acid, mimicking a phosphorylated amino acid, suggesting that phosphorylation is key to the regulation. Transformation by the mutant genome can also be rescued by ectopic expression of the E2 enhancer protein, demonstrating a loss of function by the mutant protein and not a toxic defect. In transient assays, phosphorylation site mutants of E2 protein were normal for all viral functions tested, including replication, transcriptional activation and repression (by the overlapping mutant repressors), protein accumulation, and surprisingly, viral oncogene E5 promoter activation. While the mutant genome transiently replicated to high levels, stable replication was defective, suggesting that a function of E2 required for plasmid retention is regulated by phosphorylation.

Suppression of cellular proliferation by the papillomavirus E2 protein

Carcinogenic progression of a human papillomavirus (HPV)-infected cell is often associated with integration of the viral genome in a manner which results in the loss of expression of the viral regulatory protein E2. One function of E2 is the regulation of expression of the viral oncogenes, E6 and E7. Introduction of the bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) E2 transactivator (E2-TA) in HeLa cells, an HPV type 18 (HPV-18)-positive cervical carcinoma cell line results in growth arrest. In this study, we have found that the HPV-16 and HPV-18 E2 proteins share with BPV-1 E2-TA the ability to suppress HeLa cell growth. This property was not observed for the BPV-1 E2 transcriptional repressor (E2-TR). Analysis of various mutant E2 proteins for growth suppression revealed a requirement for the intact transactivation and DNA binding domains. A HeLa cell line (HeLa-tsE2) which expressed a conditional mutant E2 protein that was functional only at the permissive temperature (32 degrees C) was established, permitting an analysis of the molecular and cellular consequences of E2 expression. Our data indicate that one mechanism by which E2 suppresses cellular growth is through repression of E6 and E7 expression, thereby enabling the cellular targets of E6 and E7 to resume regulation of the cell cycle.

cis-Acting components of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA replication: linker substitution analysis of the HPV type 11 origin

Papillomavirus DNA replication requires the viral trans-acting factors E1 and E2 in addition to the host cell's general replication machinery. The origins of DNA replication in bovine and human papillomavirus genomes have been localized to a specific part of the upstream regulatory region (URR) which includes recognition sites for E1 and E2 proteins. To fine map cis-acting elements influencing human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) DNA replication and to determine the relative contributions of such sites, we engineered consecutive linker substitution mutations across a region of 158 bp in the HPV-11 origin and tested mutant origins for replication function in a cell-based transient replication assay. Our results both confirm and extend the findings of others. E2 binding sites are the major cis components of HPV-11 DNA replication, and there is evidence for synergy between these sites. Differential capacity of the three E2 binding sites within the origin to affect replication may be attributed, at least in part, to context. At least one E2 binding site is essential for replication. The imperfect AT-rich palindrome of the E1 helicase binding site is not essential since replication occurs even in the absence of this sequence. However, replication is enhanced by the presence of the palindromic sequence in the HPV-11 origin. Sequence components adjacent to the E1 and E2 binding sites, comprising AT-rich and purine-rich elements and the consensus TATA box sequence, probably contribute to the overall efficiency of replication, though they are nonessential. None of the other cis elements of the HPV-11 origin region analyzed seems to influence replication significantly in the system described. The HPV-11 origin of DNA replication therefore differs from those of the other papovaviruses, simian virus 40 and polyomavirus, inasmuch as an intact helicase binding site and adjacent AT-rich components, while influential, are not absolutely essential.

Cellular control of human papillomavirus oncogene transcription

Specific types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are closely associated with the development of cervical cancer. The transforming ability of these high-risk HPV types depends on the expression of the viral E6 and E7 oncogenes. It is therefore of particular interest to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that result in the activation of E6/E7 expression during HPV-associated tumorigenesis. Recently, much progress has been made in characterizing the proteins involved in the regulation of HPV oncogene transcription. This review describes the functional significance of cellular factors involved in the transcriptional control of the E6/E7 promoter for the two most common HPV types associated with cervical cancer, HPV16 and HPV18. In addition, we discuss regulatory pathways that may contribute to the epithelial cells specificity of E6/E7 transcription. The definition of the factors that regulate HPV oncogene transcription could provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms activating viral oncogene expression during cervical carcinogenesis and forms an experimental basis for investigating the specific biochemical pathways that contribute to HPV-associated malignant cell transformation.

Importance of the bovine papillomavirus P2443 promoter in the regulation of E2 and E5 expression

The full-length bovine papillomavirus E2 gene product (E2TA), which has a direct role in DNA replication and functions as a transcriptional activator, can be expressed from an unspliced mRNA transcribed from the P2443 promoter or from spliced mRNAs transcribed from other upstream promoters. The regulation of E2 expression from these promoters is still in question. In the background of wild-type protein coding sequences, this study identified the P2443 promoter as the major source of E2TA as well as E5 expression in C127 cells.

Repression of bovine papillomavirus type 1 transcription by the E1 replication protein

Bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) is the prototype virus for the study of papillomavirus gene regulation. The functions of the BPV-1 E2 proteins in transcriptional regulation have been well characterized. The BPV-1 E1 protein is required for viral DNA replication and can bind to the origin of replication alone or in a complex with the E2 transactivator protein. In this study, we demonstrated that the BPV-1 E1 protein is also involved in transcriptional regulation. The E1 protein significantly repressed E2-transactivated transcription from the major early promoter P89. This activity is consistent with the elevated level of P89 transcription observed in BPV-1 E1 open reading frame mutants. Transcriptional repression by E1 correlated with the ability of an E1-E2 protein complex to bind the replication origin but was not dependent on viral DNA replication. These studies identify a new mechanism involved in the regulation of papillomavirus transcription which has implications regarding expression of the viral transforming functions.

Identification and characterization of novel promoters in the genome of human papillomavirus type 18

Most studies on the regulation of gene expression in human papillomaviruses (HPV) have focused on the promoter for the early genes E6 and E7. This promoter is located at the junction between the long control region and the E6 open reading frame. RNA mapping studies have suggested that additional promoters may exist in other parts of the genome. In this study, we used a combination of transcription in vitro and an analysis of RNA produced in vivo in transfected cells to identify three novel promoters in the genome of human papillomavirus type 18. These promoters are located in front of the E2 gene (P2598), within the E2 coding sequences (P3036), and at the end of the L2 open reading frame (P5600). They were active in HeLa cells, as shown by a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay. The activity of the P3036 promoter was stimulated by the bovine papillomavirus type 1 E2 protein.

Activation of human papillomavirus type 18 E6-E7 oncogene expression by transcription factor Sp1

The human papillomavirus 18 (HPV18) E6 and E7 proteins are considered to be primarily responsive for the transforming activity of the virus. In order to analyse the molecular mechanisms resulting in viral oncoprotein expression, it is necessary to identify the factors involved in the transcriptional regulation of the E6/E7 genes. Here we define by gel retardation experiments a sequence aberrant Sp1 binding site present in the promoter proximal part of the viral transcriptional control region (Upstream Regulatory Region, URR). Functional analyses employing transient reporter assays reveal that this Sp1 element is required for an efficient stimulation of the HPV18 E6/E7-promoter. Mutation of the Sp1 element in the natural context of the HPV18 URR leads to a strong decrease in the activity of the E6/E7-promoter in several cell lines. The magnitude of reduction varies between different cell types and is higher in cell lines of epithelial origin when compared with nonepithelial cells. Cotransfection assays using Sp1 expression vector systems further define the promoter proximal HPV18 Sp1 binding motif as a functional Sp1 element in vivo and show that its integrity is essential for the stimulation of the E6/E7-promoter by augmented levels of Sp1. These results indicate, that the cellular transcription factor Sp1 plays an important role for the stimulation of the E6/E7-promoter by the viral URR and represents a major determinant for the expression of HPV18 transforming genes E6 and E7.

A constitutive enhancer in the bovine papillomavirus upstream regulatory region shares genetic elements with the viral P1 promoter

The bovine papillomavirus upstream regulatory region represents a common element in the regulation of transcription from the five early viral promoters. We have determined the sequences required for transcription from the viral P1 promoter, which is located at the 5' end of the upstream regulatory region. In vitro transcription from P1 requires a 123-bp fragment (nucleotides 7153 to 7275; -33 to +90) consisting of an upstream TATA-like sequence as well as an unidentified protein which binds to sequences immediately downstream of the initiation site. In vivo, this promoter requires additional downstream sequences (to position +160; nucleotide 7345) for maximal activity but does not require any additional DNA sequence upstream of a putative TATA box. Four regions within the downstream sequence from +9 to +160 are protected from DNase I digestion by proteins present in a HeLa cell extract. The presence of these sites correlates with the level of P1 activity. A constitutive enhancer maps to this same region, and mutations in this enhancer have been shown to affect downstream promoters. Deletion analysis indicates that the same sequences are required by both the P1 promoter and the constitutive enhancer, suggesting that the same proteins function in both activities.

Cloning of GT box-binding proteins: a novel Sp1 multigene family regulating T-cell receptor gene expression

Analysis of a T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) alpha promoter from a variable gene segment (V) revealed a critical GT box element which is also found in upstream regions of several V alpha genes, TCR enhancer, and regulatory elements of other genes. This element is necessary for TCR gene expression and binds several proteins. These GT box-binding proteins were identified as members of a novel Sp1 multigene family. Two of them, which we term Sp2 and Sp3, were cloned. Sp2 and Sp3 contain zinc fingers and transactivation domains similar to those of Sp1. Like Sp1, Sp2 and Sp3 are expressed ubiquitously, and their in vitro-translated products bind to the GT box in TCR V alpha promoters. Sp3, in particular, also binds to the Sp1 consensus sequence GC box and has binding activity similar to that of Sp1. As the GT box has also previously been shown to play a role in gene regulation of other genes, these newly isolated Sp2 and Sp3 proteins might regulate expression not only of the TCR gene but of other genes as well.

Cloning of GT box-binding proteins: a novel Sp1 multigene family regulating T-cell receptor gene expression

Analysis of a T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) alpha promoter from a variable gene segment (V) revealed a critical GT box element which is also found in upstream regions of several V alpha genes, TCR enhancer, and regulatory elements of other genes. This element is necessary for TCR gene expression and binds several proteins. These GT box-binding proteins were identified as members of a novel Sp1 multigene family. Two of them, which we term Sp2 and Sp3, were cloned. Sp2 and Sp3 contain zinc fingers and transactivation domains similar to those of Sp1. Like Sp1, Sp2 and Sp3 are expressed ubiquitously, and their in vitro-translated products bind to the GT box in TCR V alpha promoters. Sp3, in particular, also binds to the Sp1 consensus sequence GC box and has binding activity similar to that of Sp1. As the GT box has also previously been shown to play a role in gene regulation of other genes, these newly isolated Sp2 and Sp3 proteins might regulate expression not only of the TCR gene but of other genes as well.

Identification and genetic definition of a bovine papillomavirus type 1 E7 protein and absence of a low-copy-number phenotype exhibited by E5, E6, or E7 viral mutants

The bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) genome replicates as a multiple-copy plasmid in murine C127 cells transformed to neoplasia by virus infection or by transfection with BPV-1 DNA. It was reported previously that BPV-1 genomes harboring frameshift mutations in the E6 or E7 open reading frame (ORF) replicated in C127 cells transformed by these mutants at a low copy number. Furthermore, the characterization of a BPV-1 mRNA in which the E6 and E7 ORFs were spliced together in frame has led to the assumption that an E6/7 fusion protein is expressed in virus-transformed C127 cells. To define the number and nature of the E6 and E7 gene products expressed in BPV-1-transformed cells, we performed immunoprecipitation experiments with antisera raised to bacterially expressed BPV-1 E6 and E7 fusion proteins. By employing cell culture conditions which induce BPV-1 E2 transactivator expression and viral early region transcription in virus-transformed C127 cell lines, we detected a single immunoprecipitated E6 protein species with an apparent molecular mass of 17 kDa and a single E7 protein species with an apparent molecular mass of 15 kDa. To characterize further these E6 and E7 proteins, C127 cells were transformed by transfection with BPV-1 genomes containing mutations predicted to prevent expression of specific E6 or E7 gene products, and the transformed cells were subjected to immunoprecipitation analysis with the E6 or E7 antiserum. The results of these experiments confirmed that the E6 and E7 ORFs encode distinct proteins and failed to establish the existence of an E6/7 fusion protein. We did not find a significant difference in the viral genome copy number between clonal C127 cell lines transformed by wild-type BPV-1 or by mutant viral genomes unable to express the E6 or the E7 protein. Furthermore, in contrast to two previous reports suggesting that expression of the BPV-1 E5 gene was required for the establishment or maintenance of a high viral plasmid copy number, we observed a two- to fourfold increase over wild-type BPV-1 plasmid copy number in C127 cells transfected with a BPV-1 E5-minus mutant and subsequently selected by neoplastic focus formation.

The bovine papillomavirus constitutive enhancer is essential for viral transformation, DNA replication, and the maintenance of latency

Bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) has served as the prototype papillomavirus for the study of viral transcription, DNA replication, and latency. However, no cis essential transcription control regions which are necessary for both transformation and replication of BPV-1 or any other papillomavirus have yet been defined. We have found that BPV-1 mutants with deletions in the long control region were defective for transformation and replication, with the essential region in the 5' long control region corresponding to the previously defined BPV-1 constitutive enhancer (S. B. Vande Pol and P. M. Howley, J. Virol. 64:5420-5429, 1990). BPV-1 mutants deleted of the constitutive enhancer could be complemented in trans by the full-length virally encoded E2 transactivator and replication factor (E2TA) and in cis by the simian virus 40 enhancer. The constitutive enhancer induced the production of E2TA by activating all the major viral early promoters upstream of the E2 open reading frame. Complementation experiments using a temperature-sensitive E2TA mutant indicated that the constitutive enhancer was necessary for the maintenance of viral DNA replication within latently infected cells and implied that viral transcription under the regulation of the constitutive enhancer may be controlled during the cell cycle. The constitutive enhancer is a master regulatory control region for establishing and maintaining BPV-1 latency, and its characteristics reveal some analogies with cell type-specific enhancer elements recognized in the human papillomaviruses.

Regulation of early gene expression from the bovine papillomavirus genome in transiently transfected C127 cells

Expression of bovine papillomavirus (BPV) early gene products is required for viral DNA replication and establishment of the transformed phenotype. By the use of a highly efficient electroporation system, we have examined for the first time the transcriptional activity of BPV promoters in their natural genomic context in a replication-permissive cell line. We have determined that a qualitatively distinct stage of transcription is not detectable prior to DNA replication in transiently transfected cells. This suggests that the transcriptional activity of the BPV genome in stably transformed cells represents the early stage of BPV gene expression. Quantitative differences in promoter activity between transiently transfected and stably transformed cells suggest that subtle changes in gene expression may control progression of the viral life cycle. Deletion analysis demonstrated that the E2 transactivator protein stimulates all of the early promoters through sequences located in the upstream regulatory region. This E2-dependent enhancer was found to be highly redundant, and particular E2 binding sites did not display a preference for particular promoters. Despite this dependence on a common cis-acting sequence, the various promoters displayed different sensitivities to the E2 transactivator. The findings that E2 regulates all promoters and, with the exception of the E2 repressors, that no other known viral gene product appears to affect transcription indicate that the E2 system functions as the master regulator of BPV early gene expression.

The papillomavirus E2 protein: a factor with many talents

The products of the papillomavirus E2 open reading frame play a key role in the regulation of the viral cycle. E2 proteins can activate or repress viral promoters by several distinct mechanisms and viral DNA replication requires the expression of the full-length E2 protein together with the product of the E1 open reading frame. This is an interesting example of how a single eukaryotic DNA-binding protein has evolved to perform several different functions and it provides a valuable model system for studying the regulation of eukaryotic transcription and DNA replication.

Direct interaction between Sp1 and the BPV enhancer E2 protein mediates synergistic activation of transcription

The physical interaction of heterologous site-specific DNA-binding proteins is an important theme in eukaryotic transcriptional regulation. In this paper, we show that the cellular transcription factor Sp1 and the BPV-1 (bovine papillomavirus type 1) enhancer protein E2 activate transcription synergistically from two papilloma viral promoters and a series of synthetic promoter constructs in transient transfection experiments. Furthermore, Sp1 can target E2 to a promoter region even in the absence of a specific E2 DNA-binding motif. Biochemical experiments establish that Sp1 enhances E2 binding to its sites and that the two proteins form a specific complex. Sp1 sequesters distally bound E2 to the promoter region by formation of stable DNA loops, visualized by electron microscopy. These experiments substantiate the notion that enhancer binding proteins are targeted to promoter regions by direct interaction with proteins that bind proximal to the transcriptional start site.