Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)is etiologically associated with many cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer, Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Burkitt's lymphoma. The virus remains in a state of limited gene expression in all EBV-associated tumors and in B cells of healthy infected persons. Reactivation into the viral lytic cycle is required for cell to cell spread and transmission among individuals. The bZIP protein, ZEBRA, encoded in the EBV BZLF1 gene, mediates the switch between latency and lytic cycle. The global objective of the proposal is to understand ZEBRA's mechanism of action and regulation of expression. Experiments concerning the function of ZEBRA will analyze consequences of mutations in ZEBRA's basic domain on conformation, protein-protein interactions and capacity to alter chromatin on target promoters. The role of phosphorylation in regulation of ZEBRA's action, particularly as a repressor of late viral promoters will be investigated. Experiments that explore control of expression of BZLF1 will address the question whether open chromatin configuration is sufficient to activate Zp, the BZLF1 promoter. The novel hypothesis that CpG methylation downstream of Zp may regulate BZLF1 expression will be pursued. The potential role of cellular Oct 1 as an inhibitor of Zp autostimulation will be examined. The proposed experiments, utilizing molecular genetics and biochemistry, are integrated into the biology of the virus and address several seminal unresolved issues about the pathogenesis of this human cancer virus.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
2R37CA012055-31
Application #
6616388
Study Section
Experimental Virology Study Section (EVR)
Program Officer
Wong, May
Project Start
1979-01-01
Project End
2008-03-31
Budget Start
2003-05-30
Budget End
2004-03-31
Support Year
31
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$410,753
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Pediatrics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Park, Richard; Miller, George (2018) Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced Nodules on Viral Replication Compartments Contain RNA Processing Proteins and a Viral Long Noncoding RNA. J Virol 92:
Gorres, Kelly L; Daigle, Derek; Mohanram, Sudharshan et al. (2016) Valpromide Inhibits Lytic Cycle Reactivation of Epstein-Barr Virus. MBio 7:e00113
Wang'ondu, Ruth; Teal, Stuart; Park, Richard et al. (2015) DNA Damage Signaling Is Induced in the Absence of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Lytic DNA Replication and in Response to Expression of ZEBRA. PLoS One 10:e0126088
Gorres, Kelly L; Daigle, Derek; Mohanram, Sudharshan et al. (2014) Activation and repression of Epstein-Barr Virus and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus lytic cycles by short- and medium-chain fatty acids. J Virol 88:8028-44
Park, Richard; El-Guindy, Ayman; Heston, Lee et al. (2014) Nuclear translocation and regulation of intranuclear distribution of cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding protein are distinct processes mediated by two Epstein Barr virus proteins. PLoS One 9:e92593
McAllister, Shane C; Shedd, Duane; Mueller, Nancy E et al. (2014) Serum IgA to Epstein-Barr virus early antigen-diffuse identifies Hodgkin's lymphoma. J Med Virol 86:1621-8
El-Guindy, Ayman; Ghiassi-Nejad, Maryam; Golden, Sean et al. (2013) Essential role of Rta in lytic DNA replication of Epstein-Barr virus. J Virol 87:208-23
Yu, Kuan-Ping; Heston, Lee; Park, Richard et al. (2013) Latency of Epstein-Barr virus is disrupted by gain-of-function mutant cellular AP-1 proteins that preferentially bind methylated DNA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 110:8176-81
Daigle, Derek; Gradoville, Lyn; Tuck, David et al. (2011) Valproic acid antagonizes the capacity of other histone deacetylase inhibitors to activate the Epstein-barr virus lytic cycle. J Virol 85:5628-43
Park, Richard; Wang'ondu, Ruth; Heston, Lee et al. (2011) Efficient induction of nuclear aggresomes by specific single missense mutations in the DNA-binding domain of a viral AP-1 homolog. J Biol Chem 286:9748-62

Showing the most recent 10 out of 66 publications