Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) ORF-1 transactivating gene exhibits malignant transforming activity and its protein binds to p53

Fatah Kashanchi, John Araujo, Jay Doniger, Sumitra Muralidhar, Renee Hoch, Samir Khleif, Elliot Mendelson, Jerry Thompson, Norio Azumi, John N. Brady, Mario Luppi, Giuseppe Torelli, Leonard J. Rosenthal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

The 357 amino acid open reading frame 1 (ORF-1), also designated DR7, within the SalI-L fragment of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) exhibited transactivation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter and increased HIV-1 replication. In the current study, the SalI-L transforming region was localized to the SalI-L-SH subfragment. Several ORFs identified in SalI-L-SH by sequence analysis were cloned into a selectable mammalian expression vector, pBK-CMV. Only pBK/ORF1 transformed NIH3T3 cells. Furthermore, cells expressing ORF-1 protein produced fibrosarcomas when injected into nude mice, whereas control cells, expressing either no ORF-1 protein or C-terminal truncated (after residue 172) ORF-1 protein, were not tumorigenic. Western blot analysis of proteins extracted from the tumors revealed ORF-1 protein. Additional studies indicated that ORF-1 was expressed in HHV-6-infected human T-cells by 18 h. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed that ORF-1 protein bound to tumor suppressor protein p53, and the ORF-1 binding domain on p53 was located between residues 28 and 187 of p53, overlapping with the specific DNA binding domain. Functional studies showed that p53-activated transcription was inhibited in ORF-1, but not in truncated ORF-1, expressing cells. Importantly, the truncated ORF-1 mutant also failed to cause transformation. Analysis of several human tumors by PCR revealed ORF-1 DNA sequences in some angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathies, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and glioblastomas. The detection of ORF-1 sequences in human tumors, while not proof per se, is a prerequisite for establishing its role in tumor development. Taken together, the results demonstrate that ORF-1 is an HHV-6 oncogene that binds to and affects p53. The identification of both transforming and transactivating activities within ORF-1 is a characteristic of other viral oncogenes and is the first reported for HHV-6.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)359-367
Number of pages9
JournalOncogene
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • HHV-6 transformation gene
  • p53 binding
  • p53-activated transcription

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

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