FUNCTIONAL PROMOTERS IN THE GENOME OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE 6B

Viral mRNAs from lesions containing human papillomavirus type 6 (HPV-6 ) have previously been mapped on the viral DNA but relatively little i s known about the control of mRNA production, or whether the mapped RN A termini correspond to promoters. By analysis of run-off transcripts synthesized in vitro, primer extension and measurements of promoter ac tivity in fragments of the viral DNA introduced into cells, we have id entified three promoters in the early region of the HPV-6b genome. The se are: (i) at the end of the long control region upstream of the E6 o pen reading frame; (ii) upstream of E7 and (iii) upstream of E1. The p romoter upstream of El was the most active. These results contrast wit h results of similar assays with HPV-18, in which the strongest promot er was that controlling expression of the transforming genes E6 and E7 . In addition, a novel promoter was detected close to E5a, upstream of the late genes.