The Interaction of the Human Adenovirus E1A Protein with the Human DREF Transcription Factor

The human adenovirus (HAdV) E1A protein is the first protein produced post-HAdV infection, and serves two main functions. The first is to modulate host and viral transcription. The second is to induce host cell cycle progression to S phase, to promote an optimal environment for viral replication. E1A performs its functions by binding and manipulating over 50 cellular factors. Interestingly, I found that E1A is capable of interacting with the poorly characterized human DNA replication-related element-binding factor (hDREF). hDREF is a transcription factor associated with the expression of several genes related to the cell cycle. I hypothesized that the interaction between E1A and hDREF would contribute to adenovirus induced transcriptional modulation and viral replication in HAdV-5 infected host cells. Utilizing co-immunoprecipitation experiments, I discovered that E1A can bind hDREF through residues 15-26. Using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), I found that hDREF also increases expression of HAdV-5 E3 and E4 genes, which are trans-activated by E1A. Finally, hDREF expression increases HAdV-5 replication. Further studies will reveal whether or not the E1A-hDREF interaction is specifically responsible for these observed results.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Microbiology and Immunology

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• James, Kris M

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Joe Mymryk

• human adenovirus
• HAdV
• E1A
• hDREF
• co-immoprecipitation

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/36491

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/36491