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Journal of Virology, February 2001, p. 1864-1869, Vol. 75, No. 4
0022-538X/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.75.4.1864-1869.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus vCyclin Open
Reading Frame Contains an Internal Ribosome Entry Site
Lara
Bieleski and
Simon J.
Talbot*
Laboratory for Clinical and Molecular
Virology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 1QH, United
Kingdom
Received 15 September 2000/Accepted 29 November 2000
 |
ABSTRACT |
We have previously examined the transcription and splicing of open
reading frames (ORFS) 71 (K13), 72, and 73 of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in the primary effusion lymphoma
cell line BCP-1 (latently infected with KSHV) (45). The three genes encoded by these ORFs (for vFLIP, vCyclin, and
latency-associated nuclear antigen [LANA]) are transcribed from a
common transcription start site in BCP-1 cells during both latency and
the lytic cycles. The resulting transcript is spliced to yield a
5.32-kb message encoding LANA, vCyclin, and vFLIP and a
1.7-kb bicistronic message encoding vCyclin and vFLIP. To
investigate whether the vFLIP protein could be expressed from this
vCyclin/vFLIP message, we utilized a bicistronic luciferase
reporter system. The genes for Renilla and firefly
luciferases (which utilize different substrates) were cloned in tandem
downstream from a T7 RNA polymerase promoter. Fragments of DNA
immediately upstream from the initiating codon of vFLIP were cloned
between the two luciferase genes. The relative expression of the two
luciferases, one directed by the putative internal ribosome entry site
(IRES) sequences and the other by cap-dependent ribosome scanning, was
used to compare the activities of the different DNA fragments. A
minimum fragment of 233 bp within the coding region of
vCyclin was found to direct efficient expression of the
downstream cistron (firefly luciferase). The activity of this IRES was
orientation dependent and unaffected by methods used to inhibit
cap-dependent translation. This is the first demonstration of an IRES
element encoded by a DNA virus and may represent a novel mechanism
through which KSHV controls protein expression.
 |
INTRODUCTION |
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a vascular
tumor occurring most commonly in patients with AIDS (3,
4). KS lesions are histologically complex and contain
proliferating spindle-shaped cells considered to be of endothelial
origin, infiltrating mononuclear cells, plasma cells, and abundant
neovascular spaces (7). The recently identified KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) (10) is implicated
in the etiology of all epidemiological forms of KS, i.e.,
Mediterranean classic, African endemic, posttransplant or iatrogenic,
and the most commonly occurring AIDS-associated form (8).
KSHV sequences have also been identified in several rare lymphomas,
such as multicentric Castleman's disease and primary effusion
lymphoma (PEL), also known as body cavity-based large-cell lymphoma
(9, 42). The seroprevalence of KSHV in the general
population exhibits variations with geographic distribution. Very low
rates of prevalence have been reported for populations in Britain and
North America, whereas high rates prevail in Africa and southern Europe
(19, 31, 41). However, antibody kinetic studies have shown
that a strong correlation exists between conversion to seropositivity
and the risk for development of KS (19, 29). Thus, KSHV
has been proposed as the etiologic agent for KS and other
KSHV-associated malignancies.
KSHV is a gammaherpesvirus that is closely related to three other
herpesviruses with oncogenic potential: herpesvirus saimiri, the murine gammaherpesvirus (MHV-68) and, more distantly, Epstein-Barr virus (34, 38). The complete nucleotide sequence of KSHV
DNA has revealed several genes, which were probably captured from the
host cell during viral evolution and whose products could also play a
role in cellular transformation and tumor induction. These include a
cyclin D homolog (vCyclin) (11, 21), a Bcl-2 homolog (13), a viral FLICE (FADD [Fas-associated death
domain]-like interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme)-inhibitory protein
(vFLIP) (17, 46), and a G-protein coupled receptor homolog
(1).
The three genes encoded by open reading frames (ORFs) 71, 72, and 73 (for vFLIP, vCyclin, and latency-associated nuclear antigen [LANA]) are transcribed from a common transcription start site in
BCP-1 cells that are uninduced (latent) or induced (lytic) with
n-butyrate. The resulting transcript is spliced to yield a
5.32-kb message encoding LANA, vCyclin, vFLIP, and a 1.7-kb bicistronic message encoding vCyclin and vFLIP (16,
45). Since a monocistronic transcript coding for vFLIP alone has
never been detected, some other unconventional mechanism involving
translational reinitiation, internal ribosomal entry, or leaky
ribosomal scanning may be implicated in the expression of vFLIP.
All nuclear eukaryotic mRNAs possess a cap structure
(m7GpppN, where N is any nucleotide) at their 5' end. The
cap plays a central role in promoting ribosome binding to the mRNA and
controlling the rate of translation initiation (20, 40).
Ribosomes can, however, access a eukaryotic mRNA by binding to an
internal ribosome entry site (IRES). IRESs were first identified in
picornavirus RNA, which does not have a 5' cap structure (27,
36), and have since been characterized in other viruses, such as
hepatitis C virus (47), and also in cellular mRNAs
involved in cell proliferation and apoptosis (fibroblast growth
factor-2 [48], vascular endothelial growth factor
[43], X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis
[24], and the protooncogene c-myc
[33, 44]). Recently, IRES elements in two cellular
mRNAs (encoding omithine decarboxylase [ODC] and PITSLRE protein
kinase) have been identified which are regulated in a
cell-cycle-dependent manner (15, 37). These data reveal a
novel role for IRES elements in the translational regulation of protein
expression during cell cycle progression.
In this paper we describe the identification of an IRES element within
the KSHV cyclin ORF. This 233-nucleotide sequence could direct the
translation of the downstream vFLIP ORF from the
vCyclin/vFLIP bicistronic transcript.
 |
MATERIALS AND METHODS |
Cells.
The KSHV-positive PEL B-cell line, BCP-1
(6), was grown in RPMI (Gibco) supplemented with 20%
(vol/vol) fetal calf serum (FCS), 2 mM glutamine, 60 µg of
penicillin/ml, and 100 µg of streptomycin/ml. The endothelial cell
line KS-IMM, derived from a KS lesion (2), was grown in
MCDB131 media (Gibco) supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) FCS, 10 mM
glutamine, 20 ng of endothelial cell growth supplement (Sigma)/ml, 60 µg of penicillin/ml, and 100 µg of streptomycin/ml. HEK293 cells
(22) were grown in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium
(Gibco) supplemented with 10% (vol/vol) FCS, 2 mM glutamine, 60 µg
of penicillin/ml, and 100 µg of streptomycin/ml. Cells were incubated
at 37°C under 4% CO2.
Plasmids.
The plasmid pdLUC was constructed by cloning the
firefly luciferase gene (from pGL3-basic; Promega) as an
NheI-XbaI fragment downstream of the
Renilla luciferase gene at the XbaI site in the
plasmid pRL-CMV (Promega). Plasmid pdLUC-SL is identical to pdLUC
except for a 60-nucleotide
sequence (5'GCTAGCGGTACGGCAGTGCCGTACGACGAATTCGTCGTACGGC ACTGCCGTACCGCTAGC3'),
capable of forming a stable 28-bp stem-loop (
G =
62 kcal/mol), cloned at the NheI site immediately upstream from the Renilla luciferase start codon (see Fig. 1b).
The IRES sequence from encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) or fragments
of KSHV vCyclin/vFLIP were cloned into the
SmaI-NcoI sites of pdLUC and pdLUC-SL.
Transfection of cells.
BCP-1 cells (105 cells
per well), HEK293 (5 × 104 cells per well), or KS-IMM
(5 × 104 cells per well) were seeded in 24-well trays and
incubated overnight. The cells were infected with vTF7-3
(18), a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing T7 RNA
polymerase, at 5 PFU per cell in 200 µl of serum-free medium
(OptiMEM; Gibco-BRL) for 60 min at 37°C. The inoculum was removed,
and the cells were washed once with OptiMEM. The cells were then
transfected with 0.5 µg of linearized (AflII and
NotI) plasmid DNA and 1.5 µl of Transfast transfection reagent per well according to the instructions of the manufacturer (Promega). Following a 1-h incubation at 37°C, 1 ml of growth medium
was added to the wells. The cells were assayed for luciferase activity
24 h later as described below.
Dual luciferase assays.
Transfected cells were washed twice
in phosphate-buffered saline and then lysed by addition of 200 µl of
passive lysis buffer (Promega). After incubation for 15 min at room
temperature, the cell lysates were transferred to Eppendorf tubes and
snap frozen on dry ice. The lysates were then thawed and vortexed for 1 min, and the cell debris was removed by spinning at 10,000 × g for 1 min. The activities of Renilla and
firefly luciferases were assayed using the dual luciferase system as
described by the manufacturer (Promega). Luciferase activities were
measured using a Labsystems benchtop luminometer, and the ratio of
firefly luciferase activity to Renilla luciferase activity
was calculated and used as a measure of IRES function.
Northern blots.
BCP-1 cells (2 × 106) were
infected with vaccinia vTF7-3 (18) (multiplicity of
infection = 5) and then transfected with 2 µg of linearized
plasmid DNA as described above. Twenty-four hours posttransfection,
Poly(A)+ RNA was isolated (Sigma) from the BCP-1 cells. The
mRNA (equivalent to 106 cells per lane) was separated on
formaldehyde agarose gels as described previously (39) and
transferred onto a Genescreen-plus membrane by capillary blotting
according to the manufacturer's instructions (NEN Research products).
The filters were baked at 80°C for 2 h and then hybridized to
Renilla or firefly luciferase DNA probes randomly labeled
with [
-32P]dCTP. Filters were prehybridized for 20 min
and hybridized for 60 min at 60°C in QuickHyb solution (Stratagene).
Blots were washed twice for 15 min at 20°C in 2× SSC (1× SSC is
0.15 M NaCl plus 0.015 M sodium citrate)-0.1% (wt/vol) sodium dodecyl
sulfate and once for 30 min at 60°C in 0.1× SSC-0.1% sodium
dodecyl sulfate before exposure to X-ray film (X-OMAT-AR-Kodak) at
80°C with an intensifying screen.
 |
RESULTS |
The major latently expressed loci within the KSHV genome contain
three genes: those for LANA, vCyclin (Cyclin D homolog), and
vFLIP (Flice inhibitory protein homolog) (30). Two mRNA transcripts from this region are seen in cells latently infected with
KSHV. Both are transcribed from a common transcription start site
and are differentially spliced to yield a tricistronic message encoding LANA, vCyclin, and vFLIP and a bicistronic
message encoding vCyclin and vFLIP (Fig.
1a) (16, 45). There have
been no reports of further splicing events resulting in a monocistronic
transcript encoding for vFLIP alone, suggesting that this ORF may be
translated via an unconventional mechanism. To test the hypothesis that
this bicistronic transcript could contain an IRES allowing the
translation of the downstream vFLIP ORF, we constructed a bicistronic
luciferase reporter plasmid (pdLUC) (Fig. 1b). In this plasmid the
downstream cistron (firefly luciferase) would ordinarily be accessed
inefficiently by ribosomes which have completed translation of the
upstream cistron (Renilla luciferase). However, if an IRES
sequence (e.g., EMCV IRES) (Fig. 2a) is inserted before the downstream
ORF, translation is considerably enhanced (up to 100-fold). This system
offers the advantage that both reporter enzymes can be assayed in the same cell lysate preparation, with the activity of the two luciferase enzymes (which utilize different substrates) determined using a
benchtop luminometer. In addition, the upstream reporter
(Renilla luciferase) acts as an internal control to account
for differences in transfection efficiency. The plasmids were
constructed such that transcription of the bicistronic reporter was
driven from a T7 RNA polymerase promoter. The constructs were
transfected into cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus
(vTF7-3) (18) which expresses T7 RNA polymerase, therefore
allowing cytoplasmic transcription of the bicistronic mRNAs. Since
this system bypasses the nuclear transcription pathway, the possibility
of splicing accounting for expression of the downstream cistron is
eliminated.

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FIG. 1.
(a) Map of the left end of the KSHV genome showing the
transcription of the latent genes ORF 71, 72, and 73 encoding vFLIP,
vCyclin, and LANA, respectively. Two spliced transcripts are
observed in PEL cell lines: one tricistronic transcript encoding LANA,
vCyclin, and vFLIP and one bicistronic transcript encoding
vCyclin and vFLIP. (b) Schematic diagram of the plasmids
pdLUC and pdLUC-SL. Both plasmids have the coding sequence for the
Renilla and firefly luciferase enzymes cloned downstream of
a T7 RNA polymerase promoter. The plasmid pdLUC-SL has a stable 28-bp
stem-loop cloned immediately upstream of the Renilla
luciferase start codon.
|
|
The KSHV vCyclin coding sequence contains an IRES
element.
Restriction enzyme fragments of the vCyclin
coding sequence immediately upstream from the vFLIP start codon
were cloned into the pdLUC plasmid as shown in Fig.
2a. These plasmids were transfected into
the BCP-1 cell line (latently infected with KSHV), which had been
infected with vaccinia virus vTF7-3 (18) at a multiplicity of infection of 5. The Renilla luciferase and firefly
luciferase activities were measured in cell lysates 24 h
posttransfection. The ratio of firefly luciferase activity to
Renilla luciferase activity was calculated and used as a
measure of IRES function. These data (Fig. 2a) show that a
233-nucleotide sequence between the SacII and
Eco47III restriction sites (nucleotides 123206 to 122973;
GenBank accession no. U75698) (38) in the
vCyclin coding sequence is capable of directing efficient
translation of the firefly luciferase. Reducing the size of this
fragment further using the AatII restriction site resulted
in a complete loss of IRES activity. Although this putative IRES
sequence was less efficient (10.6 versus 30%) than the
well-characterized IRES from EMCV, it still promoted translation well
above background levels. We also note that the expression of firefly
luciferase from pdLuc8 (SacII-Eco47III) was more
efficient (10.6 versus 6.2%) than that from pdLuc3
(SacII-NcoI) (Fig. 2a). This may reflect the
smaller nucleotide distance from the IRES element to the downstream cistron, or alternatively, the increased activity could be due to the
removal of two start codons that could potentially compete for
scanning ribosomes. The function of this vCyclin IRES was orientation dependent (Fig. 2a).

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FIG. 2.
Assay for IRES activity in BCP-1 cells. The indicated
restriction fragments from the vCyclin gene were cloned
between the SmaI and NcoI sites of pdLUC (a) or
pdLUC-SL (b). The activities of firefly (FF) and Renilla
(RL) luciferase (in relative light units) and the ratio (%) of the two
from a representative experiment are shown. The restriction sites shown
on the schematic diagram of vCyclin and vFLIP are as follows:
NcoI, BamHI, SacII, AatII,
Eco47III, PvuII, HindIII,
NcoI.
|
|
A Northern blot analysis of poly(A)
+ RNA isolated from
BCP-1 cells infected with vaccinia vTF7-3 (
18) and
transfected with
pdLuc, pdLuc-EMCV, or pdLuc8 and probed with firefly
luciferase
DNA showed that the cells expressed bicistronic mRNA of
the predicted
size (Fig.
3). We did not
observe any smaller transcripts representing
alternative transcription
start sites within the KSHV sequences,
even on overexposed blots (data
not shown). These data suggest
that the enhanced expression of the
downstream firefly luciferase
gene resulted from IRES-driven
translation rather than from unusual
splicing events, RNA
fragmentation, or a cryptic vaccinia virus
promoter.

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FIG. 3.
Northern blot of poly(A)+ RNA purified from
BCP-1 cells infected with vaccinia vTF73 (18) and
transfected with pdLUC (lane 1), pdLUC-EMCV (lane 2), or pdLUC-8 (lane
3) or untransfected (lane 4). The blot was probed with DNA
corresponding to the firefly luciferase gene. The approximate size
predicted for each transcript is 2.7 kb (pdLUC), 3.3 kb (pdLUC-EMCV),
or 2.9 kb (pdLUC-8). Size markers (kb) are indicated.
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|
The function of the vCyclin IRES element was also tested in
both HEK293 (
22) and KSIMM cells (
2) (a
KSHV-negative endothelial
cell line derived from a KS biopsy). Although
the EMCV IRES directed
efficient translation of the second cistron in
these cells, none
of the vCyclin sequences appeared to
function as an IRES (Table
1). These data
suggest that specific KSHV or cellular factors
may be required for
efficient functioning of the vCyclin IRES.
Inhibition of translation of the upstream cistron does not affect
the activity of the IRES.
To show that the enhanced expression of
the firefly luciferase cistron was due to an IRES sequence within the
vCyclin gene and was not dependent on the translation of the
upstream Renilla luciferase cistron, we constructed a
plasmid that inhibited translation of the first cistron. This was
achieved by using an equivalent reporter construct (pdLUC-SL; Fig. 1b)
that contained an inverted repeat, with the potential to form a stable
28-bp stem-loop structure in the 5' untranslated region (UTR)
immediately upstream from the Renilla luciferase start
codon. The data shown in Fig. 2b show that translation of the first
cistron is efficiently inhibited by the presence of the stable
stem-loop structure. However, translation of the second cistron via the
IRES sequence within the vCyclin gene was unaffected by the
presence of the stem-loop. This confirms that translation of the second
cistron is dependent not on translation of the first cistron but rather
on the presence of specific sequence elements within the IRES sequence.
The predicted RNA secondary structure of the vCyclin
IRES.
An RNA secondary model was determined for the minimum
vCyclin IRES sequence. The program RNA mfold (32,
49) was used to produce a structure with the lowest free energy
(
G =
61.4 kcal/mol), as shown in Fig.
4. The model predicts that this RNA
sequence folds into two stable stem-loop structures separated by a
short non-base-paired region. Sequence comparisons revealed a stretch of 11 nucleotides that is 100% complementary to a sequence in 18S rRNA
(nucleotides 1150 to 1160). The secondary structure model predicts that
this sequence is in a single-stranded loop and therefore has the
potential for base-pairing interactions with 18S rRNA. A recent report
(12) described an IRES element within the 5' UTR of the
mRNA encoding the homeodomain protein Gtx, which contained a
nine-nucleotide segment 100% complementary to 18S rRNA (nucleotides 1124 to 1132). This 9-nucleotide fragment still functioned as an IRES
even when taken out of the context of the rest of the 5' UTR,
suggesting that this IRES functioned at least in part via base-pairing
between rRNA and the mRNA. To test if this was also the case for
the vCyclin IRES, we cloned the 11-nucleotide sequence into
the pdLUC and pdLUC-SL reporter plasmids. However, this sequence was
unable to promote the translation of the second luciferase cistron on
its own (data not shown). Although these data do not rule out the
possibility of direct base pairing between the IRES sequence and 18S
rRNA, there must be additional elements within the vCyclin
IRES that are necessary for its correct function. One such element
could be the polypyrimidine-rich sequence found at nucleotides 123199 to 123183. The presence of polypyrimidine-rich sequences in several
other IRES elements in viruses and cellular mRNAs has been noted
(37). The fact that IRES activity is lost when the two
stem-loop structures are separated at the AatII site suggests that multiple structural and sequence elements are essential for correct function of the vCyclin IRES.

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FIG. 4.
Predicted secondary structure of the shortest functional
vCyclin IRES. The sequence between the SacII and
Eco47III sites (nucleotides 123206 to 122973; GenBank
accession no. U75698) (38) is shown in upper case. Vector
sequences are shown in lower case. The stop codon for the
Renilla luciferase gene and the start codon for the
firefly luciferase gene are underlined. The 11-nucleotide sequence
complementary to 18S rRNA (nucleotides 1150 to 1160) is boxed, and the
polypyrimidine-rich sequence is shown in bold. The arrow shows the
cleavage position of the AatII site. The RNA was folded
using RNA mfold version 3.0 (32, 49). G = 61.4
kcal/mol.
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|
 |
DISCUSSION |
Analysis of KSHV gene expression has revealed a cluster of
latently expressed transcripts encoding LANA (ORF 73),
vCyclin (ORF 72), and vFLIP (ORF K13). The vCyclin
and vFLIP coding sequences are present on a bicistronic transcript
(30, 45). We have identified an IRES within the
vCyclin coding sequence (nucleotides 123206 to 122973)
(38) that has the potential to direct the translation of
vFLIP from this bicistronic transcript. IRES elements were first
identified in the 5' UTR of picornaviruses (27, 36) and
are essential for the cap-independent translation of the viral polyprotein. More recently, IRES elements have been characterized for
several cellular genes (14, 15, 23, 24, 28, 33, 37, 44).
It is unusual to find an IRES driving the translation of a gene within
the coding sequence of an upstream cistron (vCyclin). Most
IRESs examined to date are located within 5' UTR of mRNAs. Although
we have not yet formally shown that this IRES actually controls the
expression of vFLIP in vivo, we assume that the data presented here
using a dual luciferase reporter system will parallel the situation in
KSHV-infected cells.
The KSHV cyclin complexed with cyclin-dependent kinase-6 (cdk6) has
been shown to inactivate the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and thereby
promote cell cycle progression and proliferation (11, 21).
It has been demonstrated that ectopic expression of vCyclin in cells with elevated levels of cdk6 leads to apoptotic cell death after the cells enter S phase. Studies on the mechanisms involved
in this caspase-3-mediated apoptosis indicated that it was
independent of cellular p53 or pRb status, and it was not suppressed by
Bcl-2. In contrast, the KSHV-encoded v-Bcl-2 efficiently suppressed
vCyclin-/cdk6-induced apoptosis (35). Abnormally proliferating cells are also known to be a target for cytotoxic T-cell
(CTL)-mediated cell killing through FasL or tumor necrosis factor death
receptors. Cellular FLIP (cFLIP) and KSHV vFLIP have been shown to
inhibit FasL-mediated apoptosis by binding to and blocking the
death-effector domain on the cytoplasmic C terminus of the Fas receptor
(CD95) (26, 35, 46). KSHV vFLIP protects cells from
Fas-mediated apoptosis by inhibiting caspase activation and
permits clonal growth in the presence of death stimuli in vitro. KSHV
vFLIP also mediates a tumor-progressive activity by prevention of death
receptor-induced apoptosis triggered by CTLs in vivo
(17). It therefore seems likely that the function of vFLIP
is to prevent CTL-mediated killing of proliferating cells infected with
KSHV, and this may explain why the expression of vFLIP is so intimately
linked to the expression of vCyclin.
Correct progression of the cell cycle requires that certain proteins be
present or active at specific times. It has been shown that cells
arrested in G2/M phase or in mitosis translate mRNAs at
about 25% of the rate of interphase cells. This is in part due
to an inhibition of the translation initiation step due to a loss
of the cap binding protein's ability to bind the 5'
m7GpppN cap structure present on eukaryotic mRNAs
(5). This results in a general loss of cap-dependent
translation in this phase of the cell cycle (5, 25).
Recently, two reports (15, 37) have shown that two
cellular mRNAs encoding ODC and PITSLRE protein kinase are
expressed from IRES elements specifically during the G2/M
phase of the cell cycle. These mRNAs bypass the general inhibition of cap-dependent translation in G2/M-arrested cells by
utilizing a cap-independent IRES during this period of the cell cycle.
These data may have parallels with the expression of KSHV
vCyclin and vFLIP. If vFLIP is to protect KSHV-infected cells
from CTL-mediated apoptosis, then the levels of this inhibitor
of FasL-mediated apoptosis must remain at an appropriate level
throughout the cell cycle. One way of achieving this would be to ensure
that vFLIP is expressed via an IRES which is not susceptible to
cap-dependent inhibition of translation at G2/M.
It has been previously noted that the few eukaryotic mRNAs that
possess IRESs encode growth factors (fibroblast growth factor 2 and
vascular endothelial growth factor), oncogenes (c-myc and ODC), and an inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) (37).
IRES-dependent translation of these mRNAs may be essential for the
survival and proliferation of cells under stressful conditions. In this
paper we have identified an IRES which potentially controls the
expression of a virally encoded anti apoptotic protein, vFLIP,
that is intimately linked to the expression of a cell growth-promoting
protein, vCyclin. Therefore, it is conceivable that the
expression of vFLIP from an IRES represents a novel mechanism whereby
KSHV ensures continued protection against CTL-induced apoptosis
throughout the cell cycle.
 |
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
This work was supported by a Career Establishment Grant from the
Medical Research Council.
We thank James Stewart for reagents and useful discussions.
 |
FOOTNOTES |
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Laboratory for
Clinical and Molecular Virology, University of Edinburgh, Summerhall, Edinburgh EH9 1QH, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 131 6507938. Fax: 44 131 6506511. E-mail: s.talbot{at}ed.ac.uk.
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0022-538X/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JVI.75.4.1864-1869.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
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