Two Novel Promoters in the Upstream Regulatory Region of Human Papillomavirus Type 31b Are Negatively Regulated by Epithelial Differentiation

Abstract

Organotypic cultures support the stratification and differentiation of keratinocytes and the human papillomavirus (HPV) life cycle. We report transcription from four novel promoters in the HPV31b upstream regulatory region during the viral life cycle in organotypic cultures. Promoter initiation was not differentiation dependent; two promoters were down-regulated upon epithelial differentiation.