Identification of Herpes TATT-binding protein

Antiviral Res. 2007 Aug;75(2):167-72. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2007.03.002. Epub 2007 Mar 28.

Abstract

The regulation of viral gene expression is a compilation of virus and host factors influencing the transcription machinery. In Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) a distinct regulatory element utilizing the TATT-box was described. The motif is present in promoters of lytic cycle genes and resembles a crucial host genome motif (TATA-box). Since the binding specificity of eukaryotic proteins recognizing TATA-box (TBP) was determined and no specific preference for interaction with TATT motif was found, we performed a genome-wide fold recognition search to identify viral proteins potentially recognizing the TATT-box. By applying profile-profile comparisons and homology-based protein structure prediction we identified a protein of unknown function from Gammaherpesvirinae (BcRF1 of EBV) and their Betaherpesvirinae homologs (UL87 of CMV) as proteins encoding TBP fold. Although overall sequence identity is very low (circa 10%), the saddle-like fold and presence of important residues on a surface of DNA-protein interface marked both proteins as distantly related to TBP and permitted the characterization of a putative molecular basis of selective recognition of TATT-motif by BcRF1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Betaherpesvirinae / genetics
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Cytomegalovirus / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Databases, Protein
  • Gammaherpesvirinae / genetics
  • Genome, Viral
  • Herpesviridae / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / genetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics*
  • Protein Binding
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Structural Homology, Protein
  • TATA Box / genetics
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein / chemistry
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein / genetics*
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Proteins / genetics*
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • TATA-Box Binding Protein
  • Viral Proteins