Identification of a cellular protein that interacts and synergizes with the RTA (ORF50) protein of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus in transcriptional activation.

ABSTRACT: Lytic reactivation of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), or human herpesvirus 8, from latency requires transcriptional transactivation by the viral protein RTA encoded by the ORF50 gene. Very little is known about how RTA functions and the cellular factors that may be involved in its transactivation function. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have identified a human cellular protein that can interact with KSHV RTA. The cellular protein, referred to as the human hypothetical protein MGC2663 by GenBank, is encoded by human chromosome 19. This protein is 554 amino acids (aa) in size and displays sequence similarity with members of the Krueppel-associated box-zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs). MGC2663 expression could be detected in all primate cell lines tested, and its expres

SUBMITTER: Wang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC116091 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature