Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus viral interferon regulatory factor 4 (vIRF4/K10) is a novel interaction partner of CSL/CBF1, the major downstream effector of Notch signaling

J Virol. 2010 Dec;84(23):12255-64. doi: 10.1128/JVI.01484-10. Epub 2010 Sep 22.

Abstract

In cells infected with the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), CSL/CBF1 signaling is essential for viral replication and promotes the survival of KSHV-infected cells. CSL/CBF1 is a DNA adaptor molecule which recruits coactivator and corepressor complexes to regulate viral and cellular gene transcription and which is a major downstream effector molecule of activated Notch. The interaction of KSHV RTA and LANA with CSL/CBF1 has been shown to balance the lytic and latent viral life cycle. Here we report that a third KSHV protein, viral interferon regulatory factor 4 (vIRF4/K10), but none of the three other KSHV-encoded vIRFs, interacts with CSL/CBF1. Two regions of vIRF4 with dissimilar affinities contribute to CSL/CBF1 binding. Similar to Notch, vIRF4 targets the hydrophobic pocket in the beta trefoil domain of CSL/CBF1 through a short peptide motif which closely resembles a motif found in Notch but does not strictly follow the ΦWΦP consensus conserved in human and mouse Notch proteins. Our results suggest that vIRF4 might compete with Notch for CSL/CBF1 binding and signaling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding, Competitive
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatography, Affinity
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunoblotting
  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein / metabolism*
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / metabolism*
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • Immunoglobulin J Recombination Signal Sequence-Binding Protein
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • RBPJ protein, human
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Viral Proteins
  • viral interferon regulatory factors