Replication of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNAs supported by the HPV type 18 E1 and E2 proteins.

Transient replication of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 18 DNA was shown to require the viral E1 and E2 proteins. A 108-bp sequence within the long control region (nucleotides 12 to 119) was sufficient to function as the origin, but maximal replication required a region of 177 bp from positions 7800 to 7857 and 1 to 119 of HPV-18. The E1 and E2 proteins of HPV-18 also supported transient replication of plasmids containing the origins of HPV-1a and bovine papillomavirus type 1 to low levels. Interestingly, the level of replication observed with the HPV-6b origin was higher than that obtained with the homologous HPV-18 origin.