The gammaherpesviral TATA-box-binding protein directly interacts with the CTD of host RNA Pol II to direct late gene transcription.

ABSTRACT: β- and γ-herpesviruses include the oncogenic human viruses Kaposi's sarcoma-associated virus (KSHV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), which is a significant cause of congenital disease. Near the end of their replication cycle, these viruses transcribe their late genes in a manner distinct from host transcription. Late gene transcription requires six virally encoded proteins, one of which is a functional mimic of host TATA-box-binding protein (TBP) that is also involved in recruitment of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) via unknown mechanisms. Here, we applied biochemical protein interaction studies together with electron microscopy-based imaging of a reconstituted human preinitiation complex to define the mechanism underlying Pol II recruitment. These data revealed

SUBMITTER: Castaneda AF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7498053 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature