Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF34 is essential for late gene expression and virus production

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 23;7(1):329. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-00401-7.

Abstract

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman's disease. KSHV establishes a life-long infection in its host and alternates between a latent and lytic infection state. During lytic infection, lytic-related genes are expressed in a temporal manner and categorized as immediate early, early, and late gene transcripts. ORF34 is an early-late gene that interacts with several viral transcription-associated factors, however its physiological importance remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of ORF34 during KSHV infection by generating ORF34-deficient KSHV, using a bacterial artificial chromosome system. Our results reveal that ORF34-deficient KSHV exhibited significantly attenuated late gene expression and viral production but did not affect viral DNA replication. ORF34 interacted with transcription factors ORF18, ORF24, ORF31, and ORF66, and a novel ORF34-interaction partner, ORF23. The C-terminal region of ORF34 was important for interaction with ORF24 and viral production. Our data support a model, in which ORF34 serves as a hub for recruiting a viral transcription complex to ORF24 to promote late viral gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / growth & development
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / physiology*
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Vero Cells
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / deficiency
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins