An activity associated with human chromosome 21 permits nuclear colocalization of the adenovirus E1B-55K and E4orf6 proteins and promotes viral late gene expression

RUNX1 permits E4orf6-directed nuclear localization of the adenovirus E1B-55K protein and associates with centers of viral DNA and RNA synthesis

The localization of the adenovirus E1B-55K-E4orf6 protein complex is critical for its function. Prior studies demonstrated that E4orf6 directs the nuclear localization of E1B-55K in human cells and in rodent cells that contain part of human chromosome 21. We show here that the relevant activity on chromosome 21 maps to RUNX1. RUNX1 proteins are transcription factors that serve as scaffolds for the assembly of proteins that regulate transcription and RNA processing. After transfection, the RUNX1a, RUNX1b, and RUNX1-DeltaN variants allowed E4orf6-directed E1B-55K nuclear localization. The failure of RUNX1c to allow nuclear colocalization was relieved by the deletion of amino-terminal residues of this protein. In the adenovirus-infected mouse cell, RUNX1 proteins were localized to discrete structures about the periphery of viral replication centers. These sites are enriched in viral RNA and RNA-processing factors. RUNX1b and RUNX1a proteins displaced E4orf6 from these sites. The association of E1B-55K at viral replication centers was enhanced by the RUNX1a and RUNX1b proteins, but only in the absence of E4orf6. In the presence of E4orf6, E1B-55K occurred in a perinuclear cytoplasmic body resembling the aggresome and was excluded from the nucleus of the infected mouse cell. We interpret these findings to mean that a dynamic relationship exists between the E4orf6, E1B-55K, and RUNX1 proteins. In cooperation with E4orf6, RUNX1 proteins are able to modulate the localization of E1B-55K and even remodel virus-specific structures that form at late times of infection. Subsequent studies will need to determine a functional consequence of the interaction between E4orf6, E1B-55K, and RUNX1.

Both BC-box motifs of adenovirus protein E4orf6 are required to efficiently assemble an E3 ligase complex that degrades p53

Small DNA tumor viruses typically encode proteins that either inactivate or degrade p53. Human adenoviruses encode products, including E4orf6 and E1B55K, that do both. Each independently binds to p53 and inhibits its ability to activate gene expression; however, in combination they induce p53 degradation by the ubiquitin pathway. We have shown previously that p53 degradation relies on interactions of E4orf6 with the cellular proteins Cul5, Rbx1, and elongins B and C to form an E3 ligase similar to the SCF and VBC complexes. Here we show that, like other elongin BC-interacting proteins, including elongin A, von Hippel-Lindau protein, and Muf1, the interaction of E4orf6 is mediated by the BC-box motif; however, E4orf6 uniquely utilizes two BC-box motifs for degradation of p53 and another target, Mre11. In addition, our data suggest that the interaction of E1B55K with E4orf6 depends on the ability of E4orf6 to form the E3 ligase complex and that such complex formation may be required for all E4orf6-E1B55K functions.