Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Virology logoLink to Journal of Virology
. 1990 Sep;64(9):4189–4198. doi: 10.1128/jvi.64.9.4189-4198.1990

The human cytomegalovirus 2.7-kilobase RNA promoter contains a functional binding site for the adenovirus major late transcription factor.

K M Klucher 1, D H Spector 1
PMCID: PMC247883  PMID: 2166813

Abstract

We have examined the factors which influence the expression of a major 2.7-kilobase (kb) early transcript encoded by the long repeat of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD169 genome. Previously, by deletion analysis, we determined that the promoter for this early RNA consisted of multiple cis-acting elements (Klucher et al., J. Virol. 63:5334-5343, 1989). Using extracts prepared from HeLa cells as well as from infected and uninfected foreskin fibroblasts, we also obtained evidence for the interaction of a cellular factor with one of these elements. In this study, we have further defined the specificity and functional importance of this binding. On the basis of DNase I footprinting and methylation interference assays, we localized the site of interaction to a region (nucleotides -113 to -106 relative to the mRNA start site) which contains homology to the binding site for the adenovirus major late transcription factor (MLTF), also referred to as the upstream stimulatory factor (USF). The contact points of binding between the cellular factor and the guanine residues within this segment were consistent with the pattern of binding for USF/MLTF. Additionally, by using oligonucleotides containing the binding sites for USF/MLTF from the adenovirus major late promoter and the HCMV 2.7-kb RNA promoter as competitors in gel retardation assays, we were able to show that USF/MLTF bound to the two promoters with similar affinity. Correlation of the binding activity with in vivo functional importance was provided by mutagenesis and transient-expression assays. A point mutation within the HCMV USF/MLTF site lowered the affinity of binding 5- to 10-fold and decreased the inducible activity of the HCMV 2.7-kb RNA promoter by approximately 50%. Furthermore, the addition of the HCMV USF/MLTF site to a minimal 2.7-kb RNA promoter containing only the TATA sequence resulted in an increase in HCMV inducible transcriptional activity of 6- to 20-fold. However, the HCMV USF/MLTF site could not functionally substitute for the TATA sequence. These studies further support the idea that for maximal response to the HCMV infection, the 2.7-kb RNA promoter requires multiple cis-acting sequences, two of which include the binding sites for USF/MLTF and TFIID.

Full text

PDF
4189

Images in this article

4192Image
on p.4192
4193Image
on p.4193
4194Image
on p.4194
4194Image
on p.4194
4195Image
on p.4195

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Andrisani O. M., Pot D. A., Zhu Z., Dixon J. E. Three sequence-specific DNA-protein complexes are formed with the same promoter element essential for expression of the rat somatostatin gene. Mol Cell Biol. 1988 May;8(5):1947–1956. doi: 10.1128/mcb.8.5.1947. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Angel P., Baumann I., Stein B., Delius H., Rahmsdorf H. J., Herrlich P. 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate induction of the human collagenase gene is mediated by an inducible enhancer element located in the 5'-flanking region. Mol Cell Biol. 1987 Jun;7(6):2256–2266. doi: 10.1128/mcb.7.6.2256. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bradford M. M. A rapid and sensitive method for the quantitation of microgram quantities of protein utilizing the principle of protein-dye binding. Anal Biochem. 1976 May 7;72:248–254. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(76)90527-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Carthew R. W., Chodosh L. A., Sharp P. A. An RNA polymerase II transcription factor binds to an upstream element in the adenovirus major late promoter. Cell. 1985 Dec;43(2 Pt 1):439–448. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(85)90174-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Carthew R. W., Chodosh L. A., Sharp P. A. The major late transcription factor binds to and activates the mouse metallothionein I promoter. Genes Dev. 1987 Nov;1(9):973–980. doi: 10.1101/gad.1.9.973. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Chang C. P., Malone C. L., Stinski M. F. A human cytomegalovirus early gene has three inducible promoters that are regulated differentially at various times after infection. J Virol. 1989 Jan;63(1):281–290. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.1.281-290.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Chang L. S., Shi Y., Shenk T. Adeno-associated virus P5 promoter contains an adenovirus E1A-inducible element and a binding site for the major late transcription factor. J Virol. 1989 Aug;63(8):3479–3488. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.8.3479-3488.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Cherrington J. M., Mocarski E. S. Human cytomegalovirus ie1 transactivates the alpha promoter-enhancer via an 18-base-pair repeat element. J Virol. 1989 Mar;63(3):1435–1440. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.3.1435-1440.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Chodosh L. A., Carthew R. W., Morgan J. G., Crabtree G. R., Sharp P. A. The adenovirus major late transcription factor activates the rat gamma-fibrinogen promoter. Science. 1987 Oct 30;238(4827):684–688. doi: 10.1126/science.3672119. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Chodosh L. A., Carthew R. W., Sharp P. A. A single polypeptide possesses the binding and transcription activities of the adenovirus major late transcription factor. Mol Cell Biol. 1986 Dec;6(12):4723–4733. doi: 10.1128/mcb.6.12.4723. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Demarchi J. M. Human cytomegalovirus DNA: restriction enzyme cleavage maps and map locations for immediate-early, early, and late RNAs. Virology. 1981 Oct 15;114(1):23–38. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(81)90249-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Dignam J. D., Lebovitz R. M., Roeder R. G. Accurate transcription initiation by RNA polymerase II in a soluble extract from isolated mammalian nuclei. Nucleic Acids Res. 1983 Mar 11;11(5):1475–1489. doi: 10.1093/nar/11.5.1475. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Ghazal P., Lubon H., Fleckenstein B., Hennighausen L. Binding of transcription factors and creation of a large nucleoprotein complex on the human cytomegalovirus enhancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1987 Jun;84(11):3658–3662. doi: 10.1073/pnas.84.11.3658. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Ghazal P., Lubon H., Hennighausen L. Multiple sequence-specific transcription factors modulate cytomegalovirus enhancer activity in vitro. Mol Cell Biol. 1988 Apr;8(4):1809–1811. doi: 10.1128/mcb.8.4.1809. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Ghazal P., Lubon H., Hennighausen L. Specific interactions between transcription factors and the promoter-regulatory region of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early gene. J Virol. 1988 Mar;62(3):1076–1079. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.3.1076-1079.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Gorman C. M., Moffat L. F., Howard B. H. Recombinant genomes which express chloramphenicol acetyltransferase in mammalian cells. Mol Cell Biol. 1982 Sep;2(9):1044–1051. doi: 10.1128/mcb.2.9.1044. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Greenaway P. J., Wilkinson G. W. Nucleotide sequence of the most abundantly transcribed early gene of human cytomegalovirus strain AD169. Virus Res. 1987 Feb;7(1):17–31. doi: 10.1016/0168-1702(87)90055-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Hall R. K., Taylor W. L. Transcription factor IIIA gene expression in Xenopus oocytes utilizes a transcription factor similar to the major late transcription factor. Mol Cell Biol. 1989 Nov;9(11):5003–5011. doi: 10.1128/mcb.9.11.5003. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hen R., Sassone-Corsi P., Corden J., Gaub M. P., Chambon P. Sequences upstream from the T-A-T-A box are required in vivo and in vitro for efficient transcription from the adenovirus serotype 2 major late promoter. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1982 Dec;79(23):7132–7136. doi: 10.1073/pnas.79.23.7132. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Hennighausen L., Fleckenstein B. Nuclear factor 1 interacts with five DNA elements in the promoter region of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate early gene. EMBO J. 1986 Jun;5(6):1367–1371. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1986.tb04368.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Hermiston T. W., Malone C. L., Witte P. R., Stinski M. F. Identification and characterization of the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early region 2 gene that stimulates gene expression from an inducible promoter. J Virol. 1987 Oct;61(10):3214–3221. doi: 10.1128/jvi.61.10.3214-3221.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Hunninghake G. W., Monick M. M., Liu B., Stinski M. F. The promoter-regulatory region of the major immediate-early gene of human cytomegalovirus responds to T-lymphocyte stimulation and contains functional cyclic AMP-response elements. J Virol. 1989 Jul;63(7):3026–3033. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.7.3026-3033.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Jeang K. T., Rawlins D. R., Rosenfeld P. J., Shero J. H., Kelly T. J., Hayward G. S. Multiple tandemly repeated binding sites for cellular nuclear factor 1 that surround the major immediate-early promoters of simian and human cytomegalovirus. J Virol. 1987 May;61(5):1559–1570. doi: 10.1128/jvi.61.5.1559-1570.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Klucher K. M., Rabert D. K., Spector D. H. Sequences in the human cytomegalovirus 2.7-kilobase RNA promoter which mediate its regulation as an early gene. J Virol. 1989 Dec;63(12):5334–5343. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.12.5334-5343.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Lazard D., Fernández-Tomás C., Gariglio P., Weinmann R. Modification of an adenovirus major late promoter-binding factor during poliovirus infection. J Virol. 1989 Sep;63(9):3858–3864. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.9.3858-3864.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Lee K. A., Green M. R. A cellular transcription factor E4F1 interacts with an E1a-inducible enhancer and mediates constitutive enhancer function in vitro. EMBO J. 1987 May;6(5):1345–1353. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1987.tb02374.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Lennard A. C., Egly J. M. The bidirectional upstream element of the adenovirus-2 major late promoter binds a single monomeric molecule of the upstream factor. EMBO J. 1987 Oct;6(10):3027–3034. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1987.tb02608.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Leong K., Brunet L., Berk A. J. Factors responsible for the higher transcriptional activity of extracts of adenovirus-infected cells fractionate with the TATA box transcription factor. Mol Cell Biol. 1988 Apr;8(4):1765–1774. doi: 10.1128/mcb.8.4.1765. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Maxam A. M., Gilbert W. Sequencing end-labeled DNA with base-specific chemical cleavages. Methods Enzymol. 1980;65(1):499–560. doi: 10.1016/s0076-6879(80)65059-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. McDonough S. H., Spector D. H. Transcription in human fibroblasts permissively infected by human cytomegalovirus strain AD169. Virology. 1983 Feb;125(1):31–46. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(83)90061-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. McDonough S. H., Staprans S. I., Spector D. H. Analysis of the major transcripts encoded by the long repeat of human cytomegalovirus strain AD169. J Virol. 1985 Mar;53(3):711–718. doi: 10.1128/jvi.53.3.711-718.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Miyamoto N. G., Moncollin V., Egly J. M., Chambon P. Specific interaction between a transcription factor and the upstream element of the adenovirus-2 major late promoter. EMBO J. 1985 Dec 16;4(13A):3563–3570. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1985.tb04118.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Miyamoto N. G., Moncollin V., Wintzerith M., Hen R., Egly J. M., Chambon P. Stimulation of in vitro transcription by the upstream element of the adenovirus-2 major late promoter involves a specific factor. Nucleic Acids Res. 1984 Dec 11;12(23):8779–8799. doi: 10.1093/nar/12.23.8779. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Moncollin V., Miyamoto N. G., Zheng X. M., Egly J. M. Purification of a factor specific for the upstream element of the adenovirus-2 major late promoter. EMBO J. 1986 Oct;5(10):2577–2584. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1986.tb04537.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Montminy M. R., Sevarino K. A., Wagner J. A., Mandel G., Goodman R. H. Identification of a cyclic-AMP-responsive element within the rat somatostatin gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1986 Sep;83(18):6682–6686. doi: 10.1073/pnas.83.18.6682. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Nankervis G. A., Kumar M. L. Diseases produced by cytomegaloviruses. Med Clin North Am. 1978 Sep;62(5):1021–1035. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)31752-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Pei R., Berk A. J. Multiple transcription factor binding sites mediate adenovirus E1A transactivation. J Virol. 1989 Aug;63(8):3499–3506. doi: 10.1128/jvi.63.8.3499-3506.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Pizzorno M. C., O'Hare P., Sha L., LaFemina R. L., Hayward G. S. trans-activation and autoregulation of gene expression by the immediate-early region 2 gene products of human cytomegalovirus. J Virol. 1988 Apr;62(4):1167–1179. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.4.1167-1179.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Sambucetti L. C., Cherrington J. M., Wilkinson G. W., Mocarski E. S. NF-kappa B activation of the cytomegalovirus enhancer is mediated by a viral transactivator and by T cell stimulation. EMBO J. 1989 Dec 20;8(13):4251–4258. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1989.tb08610.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Sanger F., Nicklen S., Coulson A. R. DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Dec;74(12):5463–5467. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.12.5463. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Sawadogo M., Roeder R. G. Interaction of a gene-specific transcription factor with the adenovirus major late promoter upstream of the TATA box region. Cell. 1985 Nov;43(1):165–175. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(85)90021-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Sawadogo M., Van Dyke M. W., Gregor P. D., Roeder R. G. Multiple forms of the human gene-specific transcription factor USF. I. Complete purification and identification of USF from HeLa cell nuclei. J Biol Chem. 1988 Aug 25;263(24):11985–11993. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Spaete R. R., Mocarski E. S. Regulation of cytomegalovirus gene expression: alpha and beta promoters are trans activated by viral functions in permissive human fibroblasts. J Virol. 1985 Oct;56(1):135–143. doi: 10.1128/jvi.56.1.135-143.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Speck N. A., Baltimore D. Six distinct nuclear factors interact with the 75-base-pair repeat of the Moloney murine leukemia virus enhancer. Mol Cell Biol. 1987 Mar;7(3):1101–1110. doi: 10.1128/mcb.7.3.1101. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Spector D. J., Tevethia M. J. Identification of a human cytomegalovirus virus DNA segment that complements an adenovirus 5 immediate early mutant. Virology. 1986 Jun;151(2):329–338. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(86)90053-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Staprans S. I., Rabert D. K., Spector D. H. Identification of sequence requirements and trans-acting functions necessary for regulated expression of a human cytomegalovirus early gene. J Virol. 1988 Sep;62(9):3463–3473. doi: 10.1128/jvi.62.9.3463-3473.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Staprans S. I., Spector D. H. 2.2-kilobase class of early transcripts encoded by cell-related sequences in human cytomegalovirus strain AD169. J Virol. 1986 Feb;57(2):591–602. doi: 10.1128/jvi.57.2.591-602.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Stenberg R. M., Thomsen D. R., Stinski M. F. Structural analysis of the major immediate early gene of human cytomegalovirus. J Virol. 1984 Jan;49(1):190–199. doi: 10.1128/jvi.49.1.190-199.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Stenberg R. M., Witte P. R., Stinski M. F. Multiple spliced and unspliced transcripts from human cytomegalovirus immediate-early region 2 and evidence for a common initiation site within immediate-early region 1. J Virol. 1985 Dec;56(3):665–675. doi: 10.1128/jvi.56.3.665-675.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  50. Stinski M. F., Roehr T. J. Activation of the major immediate early gene of human cytomegalovirus by cis-acting elements in the promoter-regulatory sequence and by virus-specific trans-acting components. J Virol. 1985 Aug;55(2):431–441. doi: 10.1128/jvi.55.2.431-441.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  51. Stinski M. F., Thomsen D. R., Stenberg R. M., Goldstein L. C. Organization and expression of the immediate early genes of human cytomegalovirus. J Virol. 1983 Apr;46(1):1–14. doi: 10.1128/jvi.46.1.1-14.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  52. Stuart G. W., Searle P. F., Chen H. Y., Brinster R. L., Palmiter R. D. A 12-base-pair DNA motif that is repeated several times in metallothionein gene promoters confers metal regulation to a heterologous gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984 Dec;81(23):7318–7322. doi: 10.1073/pnas.81.23.7318. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  53. Tamashiro J. C., Filpula D., Friedmann T., Spector D. H. Structure of the heterogeneous L-S junction region of human cytomegalovirus strain AD169 DNA. J Virol. 1984 Nov;52(2):541–548. doi: 10.1128/jvi.52.2.541-548.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  54. Tevethia M. J., Spector D. J. Complementation of an adenovirus 5 immediate early mutant by human cytomegalovirus. Virology. 1984 Sep;137(2):428–431. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(84)90236-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  55. Tevethia M. J., Spector D. J., Leisure K. M., Stinski M. F. Participation of two human cytomegalovirus immediate early gene regions in transcriptional activation of adenovirus promoters. Virology. 1987 Dec;161(2):276–285. doi: 10.1016/0042-6822(87)90119-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  56. Wathen M. W., Stinski M. F. Temporal patterns of human cytomegalovirus transcription: mapping the viral RNAs synthesized at immediate early, early, and late times after infection. J Virol. 1982 Feb;41(2):462–477. doi: 10.1128/jvi.41.2.462-477.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  57. Wathen M. W., Thomsen D. R., Stinski M. F. Temporal regulation of human cytomegalovirus transcription at immediate early and early times after infection. J Virol. 1981 May;38(2):446–459. doi: 10.1128/jvi.38.2.446-459.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  58. Wilkinson G. W., Akrigg A., Greenaway P. J. Transcription of the immediate early genes of human cytomegalovirus strain AD169. Virus Res. 1984;1(2):101–106. doi: 10.1016/0168-1702(84)90067-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  59. Yu Y. T., Manley J. L. Generation and functional analyses for base-substitution mutants of the adenovirus 2 major late promoter. Nucleic Acids Res. 1984 Dec 21;12(24):9309–9321. doi: 10.1093/nar/12.24.9309. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Virology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES