Activation of the Epstein-Barr virus BMRF1 and BZLF1 promoters by ZEBRA in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

ZEBRA has been shown to activate model reporter genes consisting of synthetic oligomerized ZEBRA response elements upstream of a minimal CYC1 promoter fused to beta-galactosidase in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here it is shown that in S. cerevisiae ZEBRA activates transcription of natural Epstein-Barr virus promoters. Two Epstein-Barr virus promoters were shown to be activated by ZEBRA in S. cerevisiae: Zp, the promoter that regulates expression of BZLF1, which encodes ZEBRA; and EAp, the promoter controlling expression of BMRF1, which encodes diffuse early antigen, EA-D. These observations indicate that neither mammalian-specific nor virally encoded coactivators are obligatory for ZEBRA to stimulate expression from these two promoters. Zp was also strongly activated by endogenous yeast factors. EAp was not activated by yeast factors. The results show that in S. cerevisiae and in B cells, ZEBRA dominates the response of EAp; ZEBRA plus endogenous cell factors activate Zp.