A short non-coding region (SNR) commonly exists between the E5 and L2 open reading frames of human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Except for the poly(A) signal for early gene transcripts, no biological functions have been discovered for the SNR. To test a possible promoter-like activity of the SNR, we carried out CAT reporter assays using constructs containing the SNRs from HPV-16, -18 and -33 linked to a promoterless CAT gene. We reproducibly observed enhanced expression of CAT gene by the SNRs. Co-expression of a transcriptional activator (LAP/NF-IL6) or deletion of the poly(A) signal augmented the promoter-like activity of the SNRs. RNase protection assays revealed a LAP-inducible CAT mRNA properly initiated from the HPV-16 SNR. These results may suggest that the SNR has a promoter activity that is regulated by keratinocyte differentiation.
AkiraS.,
IsshikiH.,
SugitaT.,
TanabeO.,
KinoshitaS.,
NishioY.,
NakajimaT.,
HiranoT.,
KishimotoT.1990; A nuclear factor for IL-6 expression (NF-IL6) is a member of a C/EBP family. EMBO Journal 9:1897–1906
ChowL. T.,
NasseriM.,
WolinskyS. M.,
BrokerT. R.1987a; Human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 mRNAs from genital condylomata acuminata. Journal of Virology 61:2581–2588
ChowL. T.,
ReillyS. S.,
BrokerT. R.,
TaichmanL B.1987b; Identification and mapping of human papillomavirus type 1 RNA transcripts recovered from plantar warts and infected epithelial cell cultures. Journal of Virology 61:1913–1918
ColeS. T.,
StreeckR. E.1986; Genome organization and nucleotide sequence of human papillomavirus type 33, which is associated with cervical cancer. Journal of Virology 58:991–995
ColeS. T.,
DanosO.1987; Nucleotide sequence and comparative analysis of the human papillomavirus type 18 genome. Phylogeny of papillomaviruses and repeated structure of the E6 and E7 gene products. Journal of Molecular Biology 193:599–608
DescombesP.,
SchiblerU.1991; A liver-enriched transcriptional activator protein, LAP, and a trranscriptional inhibitory protein, LIP, are translated from the same mRNA. Cell 67:569–579
DescombesP.,
ChojkierM.,
LichtsteinerS.,
FalveyE.,
SchiblerU.1990; LAP, a novel member of the C/EBP gene family, encodes a liver-enriched transcriptional activator protein. Genes and Development 4:1541–1551
FujikawaK.,
FuruseM.,
UwabeK.-I.,
MakiH.,
YoshieO.1994; Nuclear localization and transforming activity of human papillomavirus type 16 E7-β-kgalactosidase fusion protein: characterization of the nuclear localization sequence. Virology 204:789–793
ImagawaM.,
OsadaS.,
KoyamaY.,
SuzukiT.,
HiromP. C.,
DiccianniM. B.,
MorimuraS.,
MuramatsuM.1991; SF-B that binds to a negative element in glutathione transferase P gene is similar or identical to trans-activator LAP/1L6-DBP. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 19:293–300
KyoS.,
InoueM.,
NishioY.,
NakanishiK.,
AkiraS.,
InoueH.,
YutsudoM.,
TanizawaO.,
HakuraA.1993; NF-IL6 represses early gene expression of human papillomavirus type 16 through binding to the noncoding region. Journal of Virology Y67:1058–1066
McCafferyR. E.,
JacksonM. E.1994; An element binding a C/EBP-related transcription factor contributes to negative regulation of the bovine papillomavirus type 4 long control region. Journal of General Virology 75:3047–3056
MakiH.,
SaitoS.,
IbarakiT.,
IchijoM.,
YoshieO.1991; Use of universal and type-specific primers in the polymerase chain reaction for the detection and typing of genital human papillomaviruses. Japanese Journal of Cancer Research 82:411–419
RohlfsM.,
WinkenbachS.,
MeyerS.,
RuppT.,
DurstM.1991; Viral transcription in human eratinocyte cell lines immortalized by human papillomavirus type-16. Virology 183:331–342