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J. Virol., Mar 1997, 2031-2040, Vol 71, No. 3
CA Spencer, ME Dahmus and SA Rice
Lytic infection of mammalian cells with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)
results in rapid repression of host gene expression and selective
activation of the viral genome. This transformation in gene expression is
thought to involve repression of host transcription and diversion of the
host RNA polymerase (RNAP II) transcription machinery to the viral genome.
However, the extent of virus-induced host transcription repression and the
mechanisms responsible for these major shifts in transcription
specificities have not been examined. To determine how HSV-1 accomplishes
repression of host RNAP II transcription, we assayed transcription patterns
on several cellular genes in cells infected with mutant and wild-type
HSV-1. Our results suggest that HSV-1 represses RNAP II transcription on
most cellular genes. However, each cellular gene we examined responds
differently to the transcription repressive effects of virus infection,
both quantitatively and with respect to the involvement of viral gene
products. Virus-induced shutoff of host RNAP II transcription requires
expression of multiple immediate-early genes. In contrast, expression of
delayed-early and late genes and viral DNA replication appear to contribute
little to repression of host cell RNAP II transcription. Modification of
RNAP II to the intermediately phosphorylated (II(I)) form appears unlinked
to virus-induced repression of host cell transcription. However, full
repression of host transcription is correlated with depletion of the
hyperphosphorylated (IIO) form of RNAP II.
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology
Repression of host RNA polymerase II transcription by herpes simplex virus type 1
Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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