RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Lee, Yu-Hsiu A1 Chiu, Ya-Fang A1 Wang, Wen-Hung A1 Chang, Li-Kwan A1 Liu, Shih-TungYR 2008 T1 Activation of the ERK signal transduction pathway by Epstein–Barr virus immediate-early protein Rta JF Journal of General Virology, VO 89 IS 10 SP 2437 OP 2446 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.2008/003897-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1465-2099, AB BRCA1-associated protein 2 (BRAP2) is known to interact with the kinase suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1), inhibiting the ERK signal transduction cascade. This study found that an Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) immediate-early protein, Rta, is a binding partner of BRAP2 in yeast and confirmed the binding in vitro by a glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay and in vivo by co-immunoprecipitation in 293(maxi-EBV) cells. Binding studies also showed that Rta and KSR1 interacted with the C-terminal 202 aa region in BRAP2. Additionally, Rta appeared to prevent the binding of KSR1 to BRAP2, activating the ERK signal transduction pathway and the transcription of an EBV immediate-early gene, BZLF1. Activation of the ERK signal transduction pathway by Rta may be critical for the maintenance of the lytic state of EBV., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.2008/003897-0