Since the elucidation of the viral-encoded factors required for lytic DNA replication it is clear that UL84 has emerged as the central factor proposed to be involved in the regulation and coordination of initiation of viral DNA synthesis. Our laboratory and others demonstrated that UL84 is a multifunctional phosphorylated and ubiquinated protein that displays nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, interacts with viral proteins IE2, UL44, UL83 and binds to RNA and DNA. Recent proteomics data from our laboratory revealed the cellular and viral binding partners for UL84 in infected cells. These discoveries have now illuminated new areas of research with respect to understanding the precise role of UL84 in HCMV growth. We have now demonstrated that UL84 interacts with the cellular kinase Casein Kinase II (CK2) and two amino acid residues within the UL84 mediated this interaction. Mutation of these two amino acid residues (aa 148 and 157) results in the inability of CK2 to interact with UL84. Mutation of these residues renders UL84 incapable of complementing oriLyt-depended DNA replication, suggesting that phosphorylation is an essential modification for the replication function of UL84. Additionally, we also show that UL84 interacts with UL44, the pol accessory protein. The binding of UL84 with UL44 suggests that the pol accessory protein may act as a cofactor for the interaction of UL84 with oriLyt and possibly recruits UL44 to oriLyt as part of the replication complex. Additionally, we now show that UL84 interacts with CCAAT/enhancer binding (C/EBP) transcription factor-binding sites within oriLyt in the absence of C/EBP, and these sites are essential for oriLyt-dependent DNA replication. This is the first reporting of a defined binding site for UL84 in oriLyt. We also demonstrate that the nuclear export activity of UL84 is essential for oriLyt-dependent DNA replication and in the context of the virus genome. This suggests that UL84 interacts with viral and/or cellular mRNA and this interaction plays an essential role in virus replication. Using an UL84-RNA pull down assay we have identified the viral mRNA encoding IRS1 as one transcript associated with UL84. This proposal will seek to determine a role for the posttranslational modifications of ubiquitination and CK2-mediated phosphorylation and elucidate the complete set of cellular/viral factors interacting with specific elements within oriLyt. Lastly, we will determine specific RNA species interacting with UL84 and how nucleocytoplasmic shuttling contributes to the regulation of DNA synthesis.

Public Health Relevance

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a beta herpesvirus that is normally asymptomatic in immune- competent hosts. HCMV UL84 is a central factor apparently controlling initiation and regulation of DNA synthesis. This proposal will characterize posttranslational modifications of this protein and evaluate viral/cellular factors interacting with oriLyt. Additionally we will explore the interaction of UL84 with other viral encoded factors and identify the role of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in the activity of UL84.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI045096-14
Application #
8463094
Study Section
Virology - B Study Section (VIRB)
Program Officer
Beisel, Christopher E
Project Start
2000-01-15
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
14
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$293,897
Indirect Cost
$84,512
Name
University of Nevada Reno
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
146515460
City
Reno
State
NV
Country
United States
Zip Code
89557
Kagele, Dominique; Rossetto, Cyprian C; Tarrant, Margaret T et al. (2012) Analysis of the interactions of viral and cellular factors with human cytomegalovirus lytic origin of replication, oriLyt. Virology 424:106-14
Silva, Laurie A; Loregian, Arianna; Pari, Gregory S et al. (2010) The carboxy-terminal segment of the human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase accessory subunit UL44 is crucial for viral replication. J Virol 84:11563-8
Gao, Yang; Kagele, Dominique; Smallenberg, Kate et al. (2010) Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of human cytomegalovirus UL84 is essential for virus growth. J Virol 84:8484-94
Kagele, Dominique; Gao, Yang; Smallenburg, Kate et al. (2009) Interaction of HCMV UL84 with C/EBPalpha transcription factor binding sites within oriLyt is essential for lytic DNA replication. Virology 392:16-23
Gao, Yang; Pari, Gregory S (2009) Interaction of human cytomegalovirus pUL84 with casein kinase 2 is required for oriLyt-dependent DNA replication. J Virol 83:2393-6
Gao, Yang; Colletti, Kelly; Pari, Gregory S (2008) Identification of human cytomegalovirus UL84 virus- and cell-encoded binding partners by using proteomics analysis. J Virol 82:96-104
Colletti, Kelly S; Smallenburg, Kate E; Xu, Yiyang et al. (2007) Human cytomegalovirus UL84 interacts with an RNA stem-loop sequence found within the RNA/DNA hybrid region of oriLyt. J Virol 81:7077-85
Colletti, Kelly S; Xu, Yiyang; Yamboliev, Irena et al. (2005) Human cytomegalovirus UL84 is a phosphoprotein that exhibits UTPase activity and is a putative member of the DExD/H box family of proteins. J Biol Chem 280:11955-60
Xu, Yiyang; Cei, Sylvia A; Rodriguez Huete, Alicia et al. (2004) Human cytomegalovirus DNA replication requires transcriptional activation via an IE2- and UL84-responsive bidirectional promoter element within oriLyt. J Virol 78:11664-77
Colletti, Kelly S; Xu, Yiyang; Cei, Sylvia A et al. (2004) Human cytomegalovirus UL84 oligomerization and heterodimerization domains act as transdominant inhibitors of oriLyt-dependent DNA replication: evidence that IE2-UL84 and UL84-UL84 interactions are required for lytic DNA replication. J Virol 78:9203-14

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