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Journal of Virology, July 2003, p. 8173-8177, Vol. 77, No. 14
0022-538X/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.77.14.8173-8177.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Zipper Region of Epstein-Barr Virus bZIP Transcription Factor Zta Is Necessary but Not Sufficient To Direct DNA Binding

Matthew R. Hicks,{dagger} Salama S. Al-Mehairi, and Alison J. Sinclair*

School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9QG, United Kingdom

Received 6 February 2003/ Accepted 21 April 2003

The viral bZIP transcription factor Zta (BZLF1, EB1, ZEBRA) mediates the switch between the latent and lytic cycles of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In part, its activity requires the formation of homodimers and interaction with specific DNA sequence elements (ZREs). Zta has an atypical zipper motif that has a lower stability than do typical bZIP proteins. Here we show that a synthetic peptide directed against the zipper can disrupt the DNA-binding function of Zta. This highlights the relevance of this region for the function of Zta and demonstrates that the zipper region is a potential target for therapeutic agents. We also unmask the relevance of a region adjacent to the zipper (CT region), which is required to direct the interaction of Zta with DNA and to transactivate ZRE-dependent promoters in vivo.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 9QG, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 (0) 1273 678194. Fax: 44 (0) 1273 678433. E-mail: A.J.Sinclair{at}sussex.ac.uk.

{dagger} Present address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.

Journal of Virology, July 2003, p. 8173-8177, Vol. 77, No. 14
0022-538X/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JVI.77.14.8173-8177.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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