Epstein-Barr virus BHRF1 micro- and stable RNAs during latency III and after induction of replication

J Virol. 2007 Sep;81(18):9967-75. doi: 10.1128/JVI.02244-06. Epub 2007 Jul 11.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) microRNAs miR-BHRF1-1, -2, and -3 have been detected in latency III-infected lymphoblasts, where they are encoded within EBNA transcripts (X. Cai, A. Schafer, S. Lu, J. P. Bilello, R. C. Desrosiers, R. Edwards, N. Raab-Traub, and B. R. Cullen, PLoS Pathog. 2:e23, 2006). In latency III-infected lymphoblasts, we have also identified a stable 1.3-kb RNA, which begins 3' to miR-BHRF1-1, includes the BHRF1 open reading frame, and ends near miR-BHRF1-2. This 1.3-kb RNA is the residue of Drosha cleavage of the BHRF1 microRNAs from EBNA transcripts. Early after induction of EBV replication in latency I-infected Akata lymphoblasts, BHRF1 spliced 1.4-kb mRNA accumulated along with low levels of miR-BHRF1-2 and -3 and a 0.9-kb Drosha or miR-BHRF1-2 cleavage product of BHRF1 mRNA. The turning on of latency III infection at 48 to 72 h after induction of EBV replication was associated with higher miR-BHRF1-1, -2, and -3 levels; accumulation of the 1.3-kb RNA residue in the nucleus; abundant BHRF1 spliced 1.4-kb mRNA in the cytoplasm; and more abundant 0.9-kb mRNA cleavage product in the cytoplasm. These findings implicate miR-BHRF1-2 in 3' cleavage of BHRF1 mRNA in the cytoplasm and Drosha in cleavage of latency III EBNA and EBV replication-associated BHRF1 transcripts in the nucleus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / virology
  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • Cytoplasm / virology
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens / metabolism
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Lymphocytes / virology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Open Reading Frames / physiology
  • RNA Splicing / physiology
  • RNA Stability / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism*
  • Ribonuclease III / metabolism
  • Viral Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Latency / physiology*
  • Virus Replication / physiology*

Substances

  • BHRF1 protein, Human herpesvirus 4
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins
  • DROSHA protein, human
  • Ribonuclease III

Associated data

  • GENBANK/EF192979