RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Meseda, Clement A. A1 Arrand, John R. A1 Mackett, Mike YR 2000 T1 Herpesvirus papio encodes a functional homologue of the Epstein–Barr virus apoptosis suppressor, BHRF1 JF Journal of General Virology, VO 81 IS 7 SP 1801 OP 1805 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-81-7-1801 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB The human tumour virus Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) encodes a 17 kDa protein, BHRF1, which is a member of the Bcl-2 family and has been shown to suppress apoptosis. The role of this gene in the life-cycle of EBV has not been fully elucidated. In order to identify motifs conserved in herpesviruses and possibly shed light on its function we isolated a BHRF1 homologue from herpesvirus papio (cercopithecine herpesvirus-12) a closely related gammaherpesvirus of baboons. The gene, hvpBHRF1, also encodes a 17 kDa protein which shares 64% identity and 79% similarity with EBV BHRF1 at the amino acid level. In biological assays, hvpBHRF1 and BHRF1 conferred similar levels of protection on human keratinocytes induced to apoptose with cis-platin., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/0022-1317-81-7-1801