The Epstein-Barr virus replication protein BBLF2/3 provides an origin-tethering function through interaction with the zinc finger DNA binding protein ZBRK1 and the KAP-1 corepressor

Herpesviruses encode a set of core proteins essential for lytic replication of their genomes. Three of these proteins form a tripartite helix-primase complex that, in the case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), consists of the helicase BBLF4, the primase BSLF1, and the linker protein BBLF2/3. BBLF2/3 and its homologs in the other herpesviruses remain relatively poorly characterized. To better understand the contribution to replication made by BBLF2/3, a yeast two-hybrid screen was performed with BBLF2/3 as the bait protein. This screen identified as interactors a number of cell replication-related proteins such as DNA polymerase beta and subunits of DNA polymerase delta along with the EBV-encoded DNase BGLF5. The screen also identified the DNA binding zinc finger protein ZBRK1 and the ZBRK1 corepressor KAP-1 as BBLF2/3 interactors. Interaction between BBLF2/3 and ZBRK1 and KAP-1 was confirmed in coimmunoprecipitation assays. A binding site for ZBRK1 in the EBV oriLyt enhancer was identified by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. ZBRK1, KAP-1, and the ZBRK1 binding protein BRCA1 were shown by indirect immunofluorescence to be present in replication compartments in lytically induced D98-HR1 cells, and additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays determined that these proteins associated with oriLyt DNA. Replication of an oriLyt plasmid and a variant oriLyt (DeltaZBRK1) plasmid was examined in lytically induced D98-HR1 cells. Exogenous ZBRK1, KAP-1, or BRCA1 increased the efficiency of oriLyt replication, while deletion of the ZBRK1 binding site impaired replication. These experiments identify ZBRK1 as another cell protein that, through BBLF2/3, provides a tethering point on oriLyt for the EBV replication complex. The data also suggest that BBLF2/3 may serve as a contact interface for cell proteins involved in replication of EBV oriLyt.     

KAP-1:转录调控中的一个桥梁分子

KAP-1(又称TIF1b, TRIM28等)是一种转录中介因子, 在诸多转录调控复合体中起桥梁作用。它通过其N端RBCC结构域与含KRAB结构域的锌指蛋白、MDM2、MM1、C/EBPb等相互作用; 通过C端的PHD及BrD结构域与SETDB1、Mi-2a等分子相互作用, 参与形成具有组蛋白甲基化酶或组蛋白去乙酰化酶活性的复合体; 通过中间的HP1BD区域与HP1蛋白相互作用, 进而与组蛋白相结合。大量研究表明, KAP-1作为一个桥梁分子, 主要以共抑制因子形式参与转录抑制复合体的形成, 在某些复合体中也可作为共激活因子发挥作用。KAP-1参与形成的复合体在精细胞发育、胚胎早期发育等生理过程中发挥重要的调控作用, 这种调控属于表观遗传调控范畴。