RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Hwang, Seungmin A1 Lee, Daeyoup A1 Gwack, Yousang A1 Min, Hyesun A1 Choe, JoonhoYR 2003 T1 Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus K8 protein interacts with hSNF5 JF Journal of General Virology, VO 84 IS 3 SP 665 OP 676 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.18699-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is a human gammaherpesvirus related to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and herpesvirus saimiri. KSHV open reading frame K8 encodes a basic region-leucine zipper protein of 237 aa that homodimerizes. K8 shows significant similarity to the EBV immediate-early protein Zta, a key regulator of EBV reactivation and replication. In this study, a carboxyl-terminal deletion mutant of K8, K8(1–115), that had strong transactivating properties was found. Screening using transcriptionally inactive K8(1–75) showed that K8 interacts and co-localizes with hSNF5, a cellular chromatin-remodelling factor, both in vivo and in vitro. This interaction requires aa 48–183 of hSNF5 and 1–75 of K8. In a yeast expression system, the ability of K8 and K8(1–115) to activate transcription requires the presence of SNF5, the yeast homologue of hSNF5. These data suggest a mechanism by which the SWI–SNF complex is recruited to specific genes. They also suggest that K8 functions as a transcriptional activator under specific conditions and that its transactivation activity requires its interaction with the cellular chromatin remodelling factor hSNF5., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.18699-0