The latent infection of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is associated with human lymphoid and epithelial cell malignancies. Reversible epigenetic silencing of EBV-encoded oncogenes is known to provide the virus with a survival strategy that includes controlling B-cell maturation and evading immune system detection. The cellular signals and mechanisms regulating the epigenetic silencing have not been fully elucidated. We have investigated the chromatin organization and epigenetic modifications in the control regions of the major latency transcripts of EBV in different latency types. Our studies suggest that epigenetic modifications play a key role in regulating the different gene expression programs of EBV latency. We focus on the control of the major latency promoters Cp and Qp, and how they are regulated by the tumor suppressor protein Rb (aim1), the viral- encoded origin binding protein EBNA1 (aim 2), and the chromatin boundary factor CTCF (aim 3). Rb and Rb-associated factors bind to Cp and regulate a cell cycle-dependent change in chromatin modifications. We propose to explore the role of Rb and Rb-associated factors in the epigenetic silencing that occurs at Cp in type I latency, and cell cycle regulation in type III.
For aim 2, we focus on the role of EBNA1 in the transcription enhancement of Cp and how this is regulated in different cell types. We propose to identify a B-cell specific mediated of EBNA1 enhancer function and whether enhancer-promoter activation correlates with changes in viral chromosome conformation.
In aim 3, we focus on the role of CTCF in regulating the interactions between enhancers and promoters, and in insulating active promoters from silent genes during latency. The long-term goal of this project is to understand the epigenetic mechanisms regulating viral gene expression during latency, and how these mechanisms contribute to viral pathogenesis.

Public Health Relevance

EBV is an important human pathogen that has been linked to multiple malignances and lymphoproliferative disorders. EBV can escape immune detection and clearance by several mechanisms including the ability to reversibly down-regulate immunogenic viral proteins. This down-regulation is known to be regulated by epigenetic changes in the latent viral chromosome. In this application, we propose to investigate key regulatory steps in the formation of epigenetic silencing during EBV latent infection.
In aim 1 we focus on the process by which the major latency promoter is transcriptionally silenced by the Rb tumor suppressor protein, and how this leads to histone H3 K9 and DNA methylation.
In aim 2, we focus on the mechanism of EBNA1 enhancer activation of Cp and the requirement for a B-cell specific coactivator. This B-cell coactivator may account for the type II latency observed in epithelial carcinomas where LMP1 is expressed in the absence of EBNA2.
In aim 3, we explore whether higher order chromatin structure and chromatin organizing factors, like CTCF, are responsible for transcriptional silencing observed in type I latent infections. These studies will help to elucidate mechanisms of viral gene regulation in different latency types. This is clinically relevant because eradication of the immune-resistant latent forms of EBV (type I and type II) will be necessary to eliminate many viral-associated cancers. The recent advent of lytic-induction therapies will also require a better understanding of the mechanisms that control transcription silencing specific for the latent viral chromosome. The proposed studies should further our understanding of EBV latent cycle gene regulation and host-virus interactions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DE017336-05
Application #
7883328
Study Section
Virology - A Study Section (VIRA)
Program Officer
Rodriguez-Chavez, Isaac R
Project Start
2005-07-01
Project End
2014-03-31
Budget Start
2010-04-01
Budget End
2011-03-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$321,316
Indirect Cost
Name
Wistar Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
075524595
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Mawhinney, Matthew T; Liu, Runcong; Lu, Fang et al. (2018) CTCF-Induced Circular DNA Complexes Observed by Atomic Force Microscopy. J Mol Biol 430:759-776
Lu, Fang; Wiedmer, Andreas; Martin, Kayla A et al. (2017) Coordinate Regulation of TET2 and EBNA2 Control DNA Methylation State of Latent Epstein-Barr Virus. J Virol :
Deakyne, Julianna S; Malecka, Kimberly A; Messick, Troy E et al. (2017) Structural and Functional Basis for an EBNA1 Hexameric Ring in Epstein-Barr Virus Episome Maintenance. J Virol 91:
Dheekollu, Jayaraju; Malecka, Kimberly; Wiedmer, Andreas et al. (2017) Carcinoma-risk variant of EBNA1 deregulates Epstein-Barr Virus episomal latency. Oncotarget 8:7248-7264
Dheekollu, Jayaraju; Wiedmer, Andreas; Sentana-Lledo, Daniel et al. (2016) HCF1 and OCT2 Cooperate with EBNA1 To Enhance OriP-Dependent Transcription and Episome Maintenance of Latent Epstein-Barr Virus. J Virol 90:5353-5367
Tempera, Italo; De Leo, Alessandra; Kossenkov, Andrew V et al. (2016) Identification of MEF2B, EBF1, and IL6R as Direct Gene Targets of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Nuclear Antigen 1 Critical for EBV-Infected B-Lymphocyte Survival. J Virol 90:345-55
Huang, Hongda; Deng, Zhong; Vladimirova, Olga et al. (2016) Structural basis underlying viral hijacking of a histone chaperone complex. Nat Commun 7:12707
Gianti, Eleonora; Messick, Troy E; Lieberman, Paul M et al. (2016) Computational analysis of EBNA1 ""druggability"" suggests novel insights for Epstein-Barr virus inhibitor design. J Comput Aided Mol Des 30:285-303
Lieberman, Paul M (2016) Epigenetics and Genetics of Viral Latency. Cell Host Microbe 19:619-28
Lu, Fang; Chen, Horng-Shen; Kossenkov, Andrew V et al. (2016) EBNA2 Drives Formation of New Chromosome Binding Sites and Target Genes for B-Cell Master Regulatory Transcription Factors RBP-j? and EBF1. PLoS Pathog 12:e1005339

Showing the most recent 10 out of 28 publications