RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Thomas, Cornelia A1 Dankesreiter, Arnd A1 Wolf, Hans A1 Schwarzmann, FritzYR 2003 T1 The BZLF1 promoter of Epstein–Barr virus is controlled by E box-/HI-motif-binding factors during virus latency JF Journal of General Virology, VO 84 IS 4 SP 959 OP 964 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.18740-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB The BZLF1 open reading frame of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) encodes an important transactivator of replication. During latency, transcription of this gene is switched off. HI motifs have been shown to cause negative regulation of the promoter. Using yeast one-hybrid assays, we isolated the E box-binding protein, E2-2, interacting with these motifs. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that E2-2 binds to HIα, HIβ and HIγ, which contain E box consensus binding sites. Deletion of the HI-associated E boxes and overexpression of E2-2 in transfection assays revealed that these elements act as repressors in lymphoid cells. In contrast, in epithelial cells they contribute to the increased responsiveness of the promoter to transactivation by the BZLF1 protein. The data presented are in accord with an alternative and exclusive binding of different cell type- and differentiation-specific factors, such as E2-2, to the HI-associated E boxes in lymphoid and epithelial cells. This implies a role in cell type-specific virus replication., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.18740-0