Open AccessHerpesvirus Ateles Tio Can Replace Herpesvirus Saimiri StpC and Tip Oncoproteins in Growth Transformation of Monkey and Human T Cells
Author(s) -
Jens Albrecht,
Brigitte Biesinger,
Ingrid Müller-Fleckenstein,
Doris Lengenfelder,
Monika Schmidt,
Bernhard Fleckenstein,
Armin Ensser
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.617
H-Index - 292
eISSN - 1070-6321
pISSN - 0022-538X
DOI - 10.1128/jvi.78.18.9814-9819.2004
Subject(s) - biology , virology , simian , virus , gammaherpesvirinae , plasmid , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , herpesviridae , genetics , viral disease
Herpesvirus saimiri group C strains are capable of transforming human and simian T-lymphocyte populations to permanent antigen-independent growth. Two viral oncoproteins, StpC and Tip, that are encoded by a single bicistronic mRNA, act in concert to mediate this phenotype. A closely related New World monkey herpesvirus, herpesvirus ateles, transcribes a single spliced mRNA at an equivalent genome locus. The encoded protein, Tio, has sequence homologies to both StpC and Tip. We inserted the tio sequence of herpesvirus ateles strain 73 into a recombinant herpesvirus saimiri C488 lacking its own stpC/tip oncogene. Simian as well as human T lymphocytes were growth transformed by the chimeric Tio-expressing viruses. Thus, a single herpesvirus protein appears to be responsible for the oncogenic effects of herpesvirus ateles.