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CpG-methylation regulates a class of Epstein-Barr virus promoters.

PLoS Pathog. 6, e1001114 (2010)
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DNA methylation is the major modification of eukaryotic genomes and plays an essential role in mammalian gene regulation. In general, cytosine-phosphatidyl-guanosine (CpG)-methylated promoters are transcriptionally repressed and nuclear proteins such as MECP2, MBD1, MBD2, and MBD4 bind CpG-methylated DNA and contribute to epigenetic silencing. Methylation of viral DNA also regulates gene expression of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is a model of herpes virus latency. In latently infected human B cells, the viral DNA is CpG-methylated, the majority of viral genes is repressed and virus synthesis is therefore abrogated. EBV's BZLF1 encodes a transcription factor of the AP-1 family (Zta) and is the master gene to overcome viral gene repression. In a genome-wide screen, we now identify and characterize those viral genes, which Zta regulates. Among them are genes essential for EBV's lytic phase, which paradoxically depend on strictly CpG-methylated promoters for their Zta-induced expression. We identified novel DNA recognition motifs, termed meZRE (methyl-Zta-responsive element), which Zta selectively binds in order to 'read' DNA in a methylation- and sequence-dependent manner unlike any other known protein. Zta is a homodimer but its binding characteristics to meZREs suggest a sequential, non-palindromic and bipartite DNA recognition element, which confers superior DNA binding compared to CpG-free ZREs. Our findings indicate that Zta has evolved to transactivate cytosine-methylated, hence repressed, silent promoters as a rule to overcome epigenetic silencing.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Keywords CREB-BINDING-PROTEIN; CHIP-SEQ DATA; LYTIC CYCLE; TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR; DNA-REPLICATION; BALF2 PROMOTER; BZLF1 PROTEIN; VIRAL GENOME; HUMAN-CELLS; EARLY GENE
Language english
Publication Year 2010
HGF-reported in Year 2010
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1553-7366
e-ISSN 1553-7374
Journal PLoS Pathogens
Quellenangaben Volume: 6, Issue: 9, Pages: e1001114 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s) 30203 - Molecular Targets and Therapies
30501 - Systemic Analysis of Genetic and Environmental Factors that Impact Health
Research field(s) Immune Response and Infection
Genetics and Epidemiology
PSP Element(s) G-501500-001
G-500700-001
PubMed ID 20886097
Scopus ID 78149302949
Erfassungsdatum 2010-10-28