The oncogenic papilloma viruses replicate as nuclear plasmids in transformed cells and as such independent replicators, they provide an ideal system to study the mechanisms of DNA replication, chromosome segregation, and gene expression. Understanding the coordination of these processes in the cell cycle is indeed a central goal of molecular biology. We propose to continue to study the ways in which the viral encoded E1 and E2 proteins work to achieve these ends for papilloma viruses. In particular, E2 as the central regulatory protein in the viruses life cycle is known to control DNA replication and gene expression. E2 targets the viral helicase E1 to the ori site and in separate activities interacts with cellular factors to stimulate transcription at many viral promoters. We have recently uncovered a new function of E2 that is regulated by cellular kinases. E2 attaches to mitotic chromosomes and in so doing stabilizes and assures viral genome segregation and nuclear retention in dividing cells. Our specific goals related to these themes are as follows: a) utilize x-ray crystal structure models of the activation domain of E2 (from HPV18) to test notions for how the enhancer works as a transcription factor and DNA replication factor. We are in particular interested in resolving if one region of the molecule can interact simultaneously with different proteins or if the domain of interactions overlap. To do this we will ask which surface residues are actually involved in function. b) We propose to use cell based assays both in drosophila and mammalian cells to explore E2 function and to better define the HPV18 promoter map. c) We want to clarify the physical role of E1 in tethering plasmids (hitch-hiking) to chromosomes; to ask if viral DNA is associated with cellular chromosomes continuously in the cell cycle or preferentially in mitosis. Moreover, we want to have a better understanding of how and when E1 and E2 occupy DNA sites on viral plasmids throughout the cell cycle. d) We want to understand how DNA strands pass through the E1 helicase rings and to further probe the E1 and E2 interaction surfaces. These studies in all will help define regions of the protein that might be targets for drug therapies in patients presenting a high viral load and therefore at risk for cervical cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA042414-17
Application #
6512376
Study Section
Experimental Virology Study Section (EVR)
Program Officer
Read-Connole, Elizabeth Lee
Project Start
1986-04-01
Project End
2004-06-30
Budget Start
2002-07-01
Budget End
2003-06-30
Support Year
17
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$343,190
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
094878337
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704
Abbate, Eric A; Berger, James M; Botchan, Michael R (2004) The X-ray structure of the papillomavirus helicase in complex with its molecular matchmaker E2. Genes Dev 18:1981-96
Alexandrov, Alexander I; Botchan, Michael R; Cozzarelli, Nicholas R (2002) Characterization of simian virus 40 T-antigen double hexamers bound to a replication fork. The active form of the helicase. J Biol Chem 277:44886-97
Voitenleitner, Christian; Botchan, Michael (2002) E1 protein of bovine papillomavirus type 1 interferes with E2 protein-mediated tethering of the viral DNA to mitotic chromosomes. J Virol 76:3440-51
Harris, S F; Botchan, M R (1999) Crystal structure of the human papillomavirus type 18 E2 activation domain. Science 284:1673-7
Fouts, E T; Yu, X; Egelman, E H et al. (1999) Biochemical and electron microscopic image analysis of the hexameric E1 helicase. J Biol Chem 274:4447-58
Lehman, C W; Botchan, M R (1998) Segregation of viral plasmids depends on tethering to chromosomes and is regulated by phosphorylation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:4338-43
Lim, D A; Gossen, M; Lehman, C W et al. (1998) Competition for DNA binding sites between the short and long forms of E2 dimers underlies repression in bovine papillomavirus type 1 DNA replication control. J Virol 72:1931-40
Lehman, C W; King, D S; Botchan, M R (1997) A papillomavirus E2 phosphorylation mutant exhibits normal transient replication and transcription but is defective in transformation and plasmid retention. J Virol 71:3652-65
Ferguson, M K; Botchan, M R (1996) Genetic analysis of the activation domain of bovine papillomavirus protein E2: its role in transcription and replication. J Virol 70:4193-9
Mendoza, R; Gandhi, L; Botchan, M R (1995) E1 recognition sequences in the bovine papillomavirus type 1 origin of DNA replication: interaction between half sites of the inverted repeats. J Virol 69:3789-98

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