The human cytomegalovirus virion possesses an activated casein kinase II that allows for the rapid phosphorylation of the inhibitor of NF-kappaB, IkappaBalpha.

ABSTRACT: We documented that the NF-kappaB signaling pathway was rapidly induced following human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection of human fibroblasts and that this induced NF-kappaB activity promoted efficient transactivation of the major immediate-early promoter (MIEP). Previously, we showed that the major HCMV envelope glycoproteins, gB and gH, initiated this NF-kappaB signaling event. However, we also hypothesized that there were additional mechanisms utilized by the virus to rapidly upregulate NF-kappaB. In this light, we specifically hypothesized that the HCMV virion contained IkappaBalpha kinase activity, allowing for direct phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha following virion entry into infected cells. In vitro kinase assays performed on purified HCMV virion extract identified bona fide IkappaBa

SUBMITTER: Nogalski MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1900216 | biostudies-literature | 2007 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature